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What does an Apparel Designer do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

An apparel designer is a professional who designs clothing and accessories. They use their creativity and knowledge of the latest trends to create stylish and practical pieces that will be worn by people of all ages. Apparel designers often work closely with other members of the fashion industry, such as patternmakers, fabricators, and manufacturers, to ensure that their designs are produced correctly and meet the needs of their customers.

Apparel Designer job duties include:

  • Researching current and future trends to ensure designs are relevant
  • Sketching design ideas by hand or using computer-aided design (CAD) programs
  • Creating patterns or templates to use in the construction of garments
  • Selecting fabrics, trims, fasteners and other materials needed to create a garment
  • Overseeing the production of garments, from concept through to final product
  • Quality control, ensuring that finished products meet high standards
  • Liaising with clients, sales staff and marketing professionals to ensure designs are commercially viable
  • Attending trade shows and fashion events to network with industry professionals
  • Keeping up to date with developments in fabrics, colours and shapes

Apparel Designer Job Requirements

An apparel designer is someone who creates clothing designs. They may work for a clothing company, or they may be self-employed. There are no specific education requirements for this job, but many designers have a degree in fashion design. There are also no specific certification or experience requirements, but many designers have interned at a clothing company or have worked as a assistant designer before becoming a designer.

Apparel Designer Skills

  • Fashion design
  • Patternmaking
  • Sewing
  • Draping
  • Knitwear design
  • Sportswear design
  • Costume design
  • Lingerie design
  • Swimwear design
  • Footwear design
  • Millinery

Related: Top Apparel Designer Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become an Apparel Designer

There are many ways to become an apparel designer. One way is to get a degree in fashion design from a college or university. Many colleges and universities offer programs in fashion design.

Another way to become an apparel designer is to work for a clothing company in their design department. Many companies have apprenticeship programs that allow people to learn the trade while working for the company.

Some people become apparel designers by working as freelance designers. They may work for several different companies or they may work on their own designing and selling their own line of clothing.

Whatever path you choose to take to become an apparel designer, it is important to be creative, have a good sense of style, and be able to sew and construct garments.

Related: Apparel Designer Resume Example

Related: Apparel Designer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

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Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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