FASHION DESIGN TERMS

FASHION DESIGN TERMS

 

• A fashion designer  conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, color, and texture. While having sewing and pattern-making skills are beneficial, they are not pre-requisites to be a successful fashion designer. Most fashion designers  undergo a formal training or apprenticeship form of training.

• A technical designer  works with the design team and the factories overseas to ensure correct garment construction, appropriate fabric choices and good fit. The technical designer fits the garment samples on a fit model, and decides which fit and construction changes to make before mass-producing the garment.

• A pattern maker (or pattern cutter) drafts the shapes and sizes of a garment's pieces. This may be done manually with paper and measuring tools or by using a Computer Aided Design software program. Another method is to drape fabric directly onto a dress form. The resulting pattern pieces can be constructed to produce the intended design of the garment and required size. Formal training is usually required for working as a pattern marker.

• A tailor  makes custom designed garments made to the client's measure; especially suits (coat and trousers, jacket and skirt, et cetera). Tailors usually undergo an apprenticeship or other formal training.

• A textile designer  designs fabric weaves and prints for clothes and furnishings. Most textile designers are formally trained as apprentices and in school.

• A stylist  co-ordinates the clothes, jewelry, and accessories used in fashion photography and catwalk presentations. A stylist may also work with an individual client to design a coordinated wardrobe of garments. Many stylists are trained in fashion design, the history of fashion, and historical costume, and have a high level of expertise in the current fashion market and future market trends. However, some simply have a strong aesthetic sense for pulling great looks together.

• A fashion buyer  selects and buys the mix of clothing available in retail shops, department stores, and chain stores. Most fashion buyers are trained in business and/or fashion studies.

• A seamstress  sews ready-to-wear or mass-produced clothing by hand or with a sewing machine, either in a garment shop or as a sewing machine operator in a factory. She (or he) may not have the skills to make (design and cut) the garments, or to fit them on a model.

• A teacher of fashion design  teaches the art and craft of fashion design in art or fashion school.

• A custom clothier  makes custom-made garments to order, for a given customer.

• A dressmaker  specializes in custom-made women's clothes: day, cocktail, and evening dresses, business clothes and suits, trousseaus, sports clothes, and lingerie.

• An illustrator  draws and paints clothing designs for commercial use.

• A fashion forecaster  predicts what colours, styles and shapes will be popular ("on-trend") before the garments are on sale in stores.

• A model  wears and displays clothes at fashion shows and in photographs.

• A fit model  aids the fashion designer by wearing and commenting on the fit of clothes during their design and pre-manufacture. Fit models need to be a particular size for this purpose.

• A fashion journalist  writes fashion articles describing the garments presented or fashion trends, for magazines or newspapers.

• An alterations specialist  (alterationist) adjusts the fit of completed garments, usually ready-to-wear, and sometimes re-styles them. NOTE: despite tailors altering garments to fit the client, not all alterationists are tailors

• An Image Consultant, wardrobe consultant or fashion advisor recommends styles and colors that are flattering to the client.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FASHION DESIGNER

 AND A TAILOR

Although both Tailor and Fashion designer are somehow  similar and exist in the same industry, they are different.

A tailor

Tailor is from the Latin word ‘taliare’ meaning to “cut”.

 Oxford dictionary  defines  a tailor as a person whose occupation is making fitted clothes such as suits, trousers and jackets to fit individual customers. Hence, a tailor is a true master of constructing  clothes(SUITS) and example includes; Ozwald Boateng, Saville Row tailors.

 A fashion designer  

A fashion designer  on the other hand  creates original designs and  is the creative force behind any fashion item (dress, jeans, earrings, shoes, etc) . He /she researches, develops   a concept, creates a visual image of the idea , conceives garment combinations, colour, and texture, and brings the designs to life in a three-dimensional form.  

A designer also  works with seasons to produce  collections and is inspired by themes such as; art, life, religion and so on.   Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Tiffany & co, are examples.

Hence, both tailor and fashion designer have different functions and abilities.