You know our country is fashion crazed when there are special boutiques that sell clothing, shoes and accessories strictly for dogs. To be fashion designer these days requires a mix of skill, talent and experience. An online fashion design degree is a way to receive the art, design and business expertise necessary to brave the fiercely competitive field.

Most fashion designers fall in one of the following three categories of merchandise:

• Clothing designer
• Footwear designer
• Accessory designer

The most common employers of fashion designers are:

• Wholesale or manufacturing firms
• Performing arts, film or television for costume design
• Self-employed

Education Requirements

To get your foot in the door of the fashion industry, an online associate degree in fashion design or merchandising is a solid beginning. An online bachelor’s degree in fine arts combined with a business, marketing or fashion merchandising degree is another sensible way to take a step closer to the runway. Experience is highly important and an internship at a design or manufacturing firm will provide exposure to the fashion business.

What’s the Job Outlook?

The greatest opportunities for fashion designers are in the larger apparel wholesale firms, designing men and women’s clothing and other items for mass production. Job growth for fashion designers will grow slowly since jobs are minimal and competition is significant.

How much does it pay?

Salaries for fashion designers vary greatly depending on your experience and type of employer. The median annual earnings in 2006 for fashion designers were $62,610.

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