Description
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
- • Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
- • Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- • Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- • Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- • Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
- • Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences.
- • Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- • Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- • Adapt other designers' ideas for the mass market.
- • Purchase new or used clothing and accessory items as needed to complete designs.
- • Visit textile showrooms to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics.
- • Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
- • Design custom clothing and accessories for individuals, retailers, or theatrical, television, or film productions.
- • Determine prices for styles.
- • Draw patterns for articles designed, cut patterns, and cut material according to patterns, using measuring instruments and scissors.
- • Develop a group of products or accessories, and market them through venues such as boutiques or mail-order catalogs.
- • Read scripts and consult directors and other production staff to develop design concepts and plan productions.
- • Test fabrics or oversee testing so that garment care labels can be created.
- • Sew together sections of material to form mockups or samples of garments or articles, using sewing equipment.
- • Research the styles and periods of clothing needed for film or theatrical productions.
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Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
