YOUR FUTURE IN FASHION

Did you know that the fashion industry generates $20 billion a year in revenue and is New York City's largest manufacturing industry?

The fashion industry is a fast-paced, increasingly complex world of creativity, design, business, and technology that many people find fascinating and alluring. As a growth industry, fashion is certain to provide many future career opportunities.

If you are contemplating a career in fashion, it is beneficial to take as many art-related classes as possible while you are in high school. This will help you develop your creative skills and sense of aesthetics. Being computer literate is also important, since many fashion companies obtain valuable information from the Internet and make use of design software programs.

You should also follow industry trends by reading books and fashion magazines, visiting museums, exploring fashion-related web sites, and watching television to observe advertising. It is critical to understand the world around you and to be aware of cultural, economic, and political events, which all have an impact on the fashion industry.

The payoff for a fashion career can be glamour and excitement, but it can be a long hard road. Most people in the industry start at the bottom and pay their dues, and there are no guarantees of fame and fortune. It is a very competitive and demanding industry, and many careers in fashion require that you work long and tedious work hours. In order to be successful, you must have a passion for fashion—a real burning desire to work in the industry. For many successful people in this business, fashion is their life—they live it, breathe it, and think it constantly.

If you decide to attend college, try to select a school that will provide an enriching and exciting educational experience—one where you can grow intellectually, creatively, professionally, and personally. A college or university that offers a specialized curriculum in fashion education is especially beneficial. Attend a college that has strong ties to the industry and where faculty are active practitioners in their fields. This will enable you to gain essential information and develop the skills you need to be successful.