Careers in Fashion – JSS3 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (First Term)

A fashion career is a job in the industry that designs, makes, sells or presents clothes and fabrics.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define a fashion career and name four main careers in fashion.
2. Describe what a tailor, a textile designer, a merchandiser and a model do.
3. State the skills each of these careers needs.
4. Compare the four careers by their main focus and key tools.
5. Name other careers connected to fashion and say which career suits them best.

What are the main careers in fashion?

There are four main careers in fashion: tailoring, textile design, merchandising and modelling.

• Tailoring: making garments that fit the body.
• Textile design: creating the patterns, colours and feel of fabric.
• Merchandising: planning, pricing and selling clothes to make a profit.
• Modelling: showing clothes to customers by wearing them.

A piece of clothing starts as an idea, becomes a fabric, is sewn into a garment and is sold in a shop. Each stage needs a different career.

What does a fashion tailor do?

A tailor is a skilled worker who turns flat fabric into a garment that fits a person’s body.

• What they do: measure clients, cut fabric using patterns and sew the pieces together.
• Skills needed: patience, an eye for detail and steady hands.
• The goal: to make clothes that fit well and look neat and professional.
• Key tools: sewing machine, scissors and measuring tape.
• Link to design: a tailor turns a 2D piece of fabric into a 3D garment, and some skilled tailors also design the clothes they sew.

What does a textile designer do?

A textile designer is an artist who creates the patterns, colours and texture of fabric.

• What they do: design prints such as Ankara patterns, choose the yarn and decide if the fabric feels soft, stretchy or tough.
• Skills needed: creativity, knowledge of colours and an interest in chemistry for dyeing.
• The goal: to produce attractive and useful materials for designers and tailors.
• Key tools: dyes and weaving looms.

What does a fashion merchandiser do?

A fashion merchandiser is a business person who connects the fashion house to the customer.

• What they do: decide which clothes go to which shops, set prices and plan displays that attract buyers.
• Skills needed: good mathematics, understanding of trends (what is popular) and good communication.
• The goal: to keep the fashion business profitable.
• Key tools: market research and spreadsheets.
• Why it matters: a beautiful dress that no one buys cannot keep a business alive.

What does a fashion model do?

A fashion model is a person who shows how clothes look when worn and moved in.

• What they do: walk on runways, pose for magazine photoshoots and promote brands on social media.
• Skills needed: confidence, physical fitness and the ability to take direction from photographers.
• The goal: to help customers picture themselves in the clothes.
• Key tools: confidence and good appearance.

How do the four fashion careers compare?

What other careers are there in fashion?

Fashion also offers many other careers that support the four main ones.

• Fashion designer: creates the ideas and sketches for new clothes.
• Pattern maker: draws the paper patterns used to cut fabric.
• Fashion stylist: chooses and matches clothes and accessories for a look or a photoshoot.
• Fashion photographer: takes pictures of clothes and models for magazines and advertisements.
• Fashion journalist: writes about clothes, trends and events.
• Boutique owner: runs a shop that sells clothes to customers.

How do I choose a fashion career that suits me?

Match your personality and strengths to the career that uses them best.

• Artist: textile design suits a person who loves colour and patterns.
• Builder: tailoring suits a person who enjoys making things with the hands.
• Business person: merchandising suits a person who is good at numbers and selling.
• Performer: modelling suits a confident person who enjoys being seen.

Evaluation

1. What is a fashion career? Name the four main careers.
2. Mention two differences between a tailor and a textile designer.
3. Why is the merchandiser important for a fashion brand to make money?
4. Which of these careers needs the most mathematics? Give a reason.

Assignment

Choose one fashion career from this lesson. Write five lines on what the person does, two skills needed and why the career suits you.