Becoming A Fashion Designer: A day in the life

From Dreams

To Reality

Becoming a fashion designer was the one thing I was always certain of.   As a child, I’d sketch outfits and spend hours imagining different ways to put together looks.

It wasn’t until later in life, after trying other paths, that I allowed myself to embrace fashion. The turning point came when I decided to follow my passion and pursue formal training in fashion design. I enrolled in FIT while working as a legal assistant and attending John Jay College.  I was rejected the first time, but I refined my portfolio and was successful the second time.

The journey was fun but challenging. The most valuable lesson was learning to stay true to my design aesthetic while adapting to the fast-paced industry.

Eventually, I launched my collection Sarango NY in 2014 during NYFW as a 21st birthday present to myself, and that’s when things came full circle.

1.  Enrich Your Passion for Fashion – Get Inspired

Explore fashion history, trends, and your personal style. Watch runway shows on Vogue, swipe through Pinterest, follow fashion magazines, and observe street style to understand the vast world of fashion.

2. Develop & Polish Your Skills

Designers need both creativity and technical skills. Take courses in fashion design, whether through formal education or online platforms. Learn to sketch designs, understand fabrics, and work with sewing techniques. Software skills, like Adobe Illustrator and CAD (computer-aided design), are also essential for creating digital designs.

3. Build a Portfolio

This is how you showcase your talent.  Start creating your designs and experimenting with different styles. Include sketches, finished garments, and mood boards to show your creative process and vision.

4. Gain Practical Experience

Hands-on experience is invaluable. Look for internships or assistant roles with established designers or fashion houses. This will give you insight into the fashion industry’s inner workings, from fabric sourcing to runway shows, and help you build industry connections.

5. Start Your Brand or Work for a Fashion House

Once you’ve honed your skills and gained experience, decide whether to launch your fashion brand or work for an established fashion house. Both paths offer unique rewards and challenges. If you’re starting your label, build a business plan, market your designs, and focus on developing a brand that resonates with your target audience.

Morning:  

My mornings start with an Iced latte as I settle down and scroll through various e-mails.  I reply to the vendors we work with and review fabric samples.  I review yesterday’s work to see what we need to catch up with today.

Mid-Morning:

I sit down with my sketchbook and start my creative process.  As I scroll through trends, fashion magazines, and Pinterest, I begin to sketch the next collection.  I create a color-card and mood board in Illustrator.

Early Afternoon:

I enjoy lunch with my son.  Once I’m done, I edit a few photos using Adobe Photoshop / Lightroom, and then I’ll go to our website and add new products.

Late Afternoon:

Today, we received a few sample pieces and performed a quality inspection.  Next, we do fittings while jotting down notes and taking pictures to send back to the factory.  This is actually my favorite part of the day, as I love to see the designs come to life!

Evenings:

I review the sketches/designs we’re set on and make tech packs on Illustrator to send to the manufacturer.  I also gather all the notes from our fitting and make a uniform file to send back to them asap.

While I unwind from today’s work, I make tomorrow’s to-do list.  I check our social media and work on creating marketing campaigns for that week.

Following these steps can help you navigate the journey toward becoming a fashion designer, whether you aim to work for a top brand or launch your label.

Above all, surround yourself with people who share your values, career goals, and a supportive network.  Be sure to stay true to yourself, put in the work, and let the creativity flow.

If you have any other questions or comments, let’s connect below or send me a quick e-mail!