Fashion and Textile Design

This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in fashion and textile design.

What is Fashion and Textile Design?

The fashion and textile industry has always recruited certain types of graduates – designers and production managers, but recruitment is broadening. Key reasons for this are the increasing importance of business and technical skills to a company’s success and a growing trend towards international business.

Each year 3,000 students graduate from fashion-related courses and as a result the supply of fashion design graduates outstrips industry demand by about 600%. So to succeed you are going to have to be amongst the best. It's essential that you don't underestimate the importance of work experience when it comes to securing a job in the fashion industry. (Can U Cut It?)

The types of careers graduates are recruited into can be divided into the following categories: design and product development, business and management and technology and associated careers (source - Prospects).

How do I get into it?

  • Just the Job
    This a dedicated careers website from Skillfast-UK, the sector skills council for fashion and textiles, for those interested in pursuing a career in the fashion and textiles sector.
  • BBC Design Trainee Scheme
    An introduction to design careers within the film, television and motion graphics industry: including costume design and make-up design. In addition the BBC Design Trainee Scheme offers one-year fixed term contracts to successful applicants via the BBC Design Competition followed by a rigorous selection process. 
  • Textile Institute
    This site includes a recruitment section and a guide to qualifications and awarding. institutions

Finding a job or employer in this sector

According to Skillfast-uk there are around 600 textile businesses based in the south east.

It is forecast that there will continue to be a decline in the total UK textile manufacturing employment between 2006 and 2014. This will be a result, chiefly, of the transfer of production activities overseas. However, it is projected that the textiles sector will need to recruit around 25,000 people over the same period of time to replace those leaving the industry.

Although there are opportunities in the textiles industry in the South East the greatest concentrations of textile activity are in West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Rochdale and Manchester.

Textiles activity; design and manufacture is not a well established sector in Sussex and so there are few opportunities.

The following selection of links is not exhaustive and aims to help you start off your research into finding a job in the fashion and textiles sector.

  • The Appointment
    The careers magazine for retail, fashion and hospitality which includes vacancies and industry news.
  • Artyfacts
    The Careers Service newsletter for arts and architecture students. This is available free to students of the University of Brighton from the Careers Service. For details of subscribing please contact the Moulsecoomb careers centre BBC Jobs, Careers and Training at the BBC
  • Catwalk Genius
    Catwalkgenius.com provides an online service that could potentially launch the careers of up-and-coming, talented fashion designers.
  • Design Directory
    Online directory of design consultants.
  • FashionUnited Network
    Management, creative, support, in-store, internships and international roles.
  • Four Seasons Recruitment
    Four Seasons Recruitment is one of the UK and London 's leading employment consultancies specialising in the Retail and Fashion industries.
  • Smith & Pye
    Fashion recruitment consultancy. They focus on jobs for experienced fashion designers.
  • Talisman Retail
    Experts in recruiting for fashion and textiles — whether it's retail, head office, in-store, manufacturing or wholesaling. 
  • University of the Arts London

Further information and useful links

  • Chartered Society of Designers (CSD)
    The society is the only body in the world representing designers
  • Embroiders Guild
    A listing of UK and international embroidery and textiles exhibitions and events
  • FashionCapital
    For London fashion designers - trends, shows, business help, plus networking and marketing opportunities. Its business directory features fashion outlets nation wide.
  • Register of Apparel and Textile Designers
    The register is an independent trade association supported by its members. Offers practical help to British exporters and to overseas buyers, agents and press.
  • Textile Institute
    The Textile Institute is a unique organisation in textiles, clothing and footwear. It was incorporated in England by a Royal Charter granted in 1925 and is a registered charity. 
  • Just Style
    Covering the apparel and textile trade. Packed full of industry news and has global jobs board.
  • ACID (Anti-copying in design)
    Not-for-profit trade organisation set up to combat plagiarism in the design and creative industries. They provide a practical framework for those who believe that their intellectual property rights have been infringed.

Key points

  • The fashion and textile industry has always recruited certain types of graduates but recruitment is broadening.
  • Each year 3,000 students graduate from fashion-related courses.
  • Work experience is important to secure a job in the fashion industry.