A person who has a rich sense of color and is good at drawing. A person with a keen sense of fashion, such as being able to arrange and wear trendy clothes in his/her own way. Excellent sewing skills are another important requirement.

In the fashion world, new product presentations are held in accordance with the season, such as "spring/summer" and "fall/winter. The new work must express the brand's unique view of the world, and fashion designers are expected to have the sense and planning skills to lead the brand. Preparation begins more than a year before the launch of a new collection. They research the market, anticipate what will be popular, and decide on the concept of the image they want to express. Next, design drawings are made and the design is finalized. Then, cutting and sewing are ordered, and finished samples are checked. Since instructions to pattern makers and sewing factories are necessary when producing samples, it is helpful to have knowledge of paper patterns, sewing, and materials.

If you want to master the skills of a designer immediately, a technical college is recommended; if you want to study more carefully, a university or junior college is recommended. The most famous vocational school is Bunka Fashion College, which has produced top designers such as Kenzo Takada (deceased). Universities and colleges with design-related departments, such as Joshibi University of Art and Design and Kyoto Art Junior College, are good choices. While studying design, students should also learn Western-style dressmaking techniques, and it is advantageous to pass the "Patternmaking Techniques Test" and the "Western-style Dressmaking Techniques Test" while still in school to gain an advantage in employment.

During the assistant period until they become full-fledged employees, many of them work diligently to create design drawings while performing detailed tasks such as packaging and shipping samples for clients and creating maps (visualizing schedules, etc.). If their work wins one of the famous awards that serve as a gateway to success for newcomers, their names will become instantly known. The most prestigious competition in Japan is the "Soen Award," which has been won by Kansai Yamamoto (deceased), Junko Koshino, and Yohji Yamamoto, among others. In addition, there are cases in which a designer seizes the opportunity to become famous by training at a well-known overseas brand. Apart from this way of stepping up, some designers have recently started their own brands right after becoming assistants, as their works can be easily presented on the Internet.

The use of computers is also essential in the fashion industry. An increasing number of designers are using graphic software to draw designs, and software specialized for clothing to easily commercialize their products. Many clothing colleges have incorporated the use of computers in fashion design into their curricula. It seems that designers of the future will need not only a sense of fashion, but also the latest digital skills.

If you become a full-fledged designer at a major apparel company, your annual income will be around 5 to 6 million yen. Furthermore, if you become a contract designer whose abilities are recognized, your annual income will be 10 million yen or more.

Major apparel companies usually have a two-day weekend. However, just before exhibitions and other events, overtime and all-nighters are common, often requiring workers to work on their days off.

Apparel makers, design firms run by famous designers, etc.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as a fashion designer!