What Have You Learned that Wasn't Taught in Design School?
Ever wondered what crucial lessons fashion professionals pick up outside the classroom? Insights from a Founder & CEO and a Co-founder reveal the real-world challenges and indispensable skills acquired on the job. The first insight highlights the importance of adaptability and communication, while the final takeaway emphasizes understanding your target market and sustainability. This article presents a total of three invaluable insights that every aspiring fashion professional should know.
- Adaptability and Communication Are Key
- Fabric Sourcing and Supplier Relationships Matter
- Understand Your Target Market and Sustainability
Adaptability and Communication Are Key
Design school teaches the technical skills, but working in fashion reveals the importance of adaptability and communication. For example, on a project designing uniforms for a medical team, changes kept coming due to feedback about practicality. Balancing aesthetics with functionality required quick problem-solving and teamwork skills I didn't truly develop until I was on the job. I also learned that networking isn't just about connections; it's about listening to clients and understanding their needs. When designing for a specific audience, like healthcare workers, their input is invaluable. These lessons taught me that success in fashion is as much about collaboration and responsiveness as creativity.
Fabric Sourcing and Supplier Relationships Matter
The biggest eye-opener for me was how crucial fabric sourcing and supplier relationships are - something barely touched on in design school. Last year, I had to switch suppliers last-minute when our main fabric source couldn't meet deadlines, and it taught me the importance of having backup partners and understanding the entire supply chain. I now spend at least 30% of my time managing supplier relationships and learning about new sustainable materials, which has become just as important as the actual design work.
Understand Your Target Market and Sustainability
What I've learned on the job that design school didn't teach me is invaluable. First, I discovered that understanding your target market is crucial. It's not just about creating beautiful designs; you have to know who you're designing for and what they want. This takes patience and time—it's not an overnight journey to becoming a top designer. Another major lesson is the importance of sustainability. Today's consumers care about it, so I've learned to use every inch of fabric efficiently to minimize waste. On top of that, the real world taught me how important it is to know technology and finance. Design school gives you the creative tools, but real life shows you that understanding tech helps streamline your processes and enhance your designs. Lastly, I've learned that failing is part of the growth. You're going to make mistakes, start from scratch, and learn more from those moments than you ever will from just winning.
