Do you like to stand out in a crowd? Are you a trendsetter? Do you find yourself constantly sketching new outfits? You don't have to start out in fashion to be a success. You don't have to live in New York or Paris. You don't even have to go to school for design. Ralp Lauren started his career as a salesman for a necktie manufacturer. Laura Ashley was a secretary. Salvatore Ferragamo worked in a factory making cowboy boots. What you do need is a burning design to succeed and a relentless passion that drives you to know everything there is to know about design.
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The average salary for a fashion desinger is $55,840, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Novice designers can expect to earn $20,000 to $25,000. Think you can't make it big as a fashion designer? Think Again? Ralph Lauren is worth $2.3 Billion.
Getting Your Foot in the Door
While there are many fashion design schools out there, many of the worlds top designers, like Tom Hilfiger are self-taught. Start today. Study the way your clothes are made. Teake apart an old dress by ripping out the seems. make notes about the different parts. Collect patterns. Design your own clothes. Experiment as you go.
Read every fashion magazine you can get your hands on. Volunteer to help dress models at local fashion shows to build a network of contacts and learn the ins and outs.
