Do you know the difference between a job and a career? Truthfully, the only difference is the level of satisfaction you derive from them. A career is something you get to do, and a job is something you have to do.
Some “practical” people think dreamers are crazy. However, it takes “crazy” people to create life’s most memorable experiences. There’s no better place than the fashion industry for people to express their inner genius (or crazy). Fashion is meant to be beautiful, freeing, and accepting. However, the fashion industry can be the polar opposite if you’re not committed and ready for the rough and tumble. This article will expose you to some of the good, bad, and ugly of the most fabulous industry on the planet.
You don’t get to start at the top
One thing you’ll learn quickly when you enter the fashion world is that you don’t get to start at the top. You might know how to match petite maxi dresses with the perfect waist jacket and heels, but so does everyone else in the business.
Think of the cliché of the actress waiting tables or the MBA grad serving coffee and printing documents and apply it to the fashion industry. Before you ever get to submit your first design or access a company spending account for purchasing garments and other supplies, you’ll do a lot of grunt work. It takes a lot of hard work to launch seasonal designs, prepare for fashion shows, and keep the designers’ studio clean while they’re working on a new line. You’ll get to do a lot of that work yourself as an entry-level member of the fashion world.
You could meet people from all over the world.
One of the great things about the fashion industry is you could meet new people from every corner of the world. You may even get to travel the world!
As you know, the world in which we live has an immeasurable influence on fashion. Getting to meet people from different cultures and see different parts of the world will have a seismic impact on your artistic style and worldview.
The relationships you make in the industry are what will propel you in your pursuit of success. Adam Lippes met Courtney Sarofim through a mutual acquaintance. What started as Sarofim’s appreciation for Lippes’s vision and designs became a partnership that’s helping Lippes to expand his fashion house. So, value your relationships.
There are plenty of career opportunities in the fashion world.
There are more career opportunities in the fashion world than you can fathom. Your career path merely depends on your skills and how close you want to be to the action.
Are you an artist or a networker? Are you a creator or an executive? Would you rather plan the fall line for an upcoming fashion show, or would you rather plan the show? The answers to these questions will help you define your career path.
The key to achieving lasting success in the fashion world is finding your niche. That applies to your sense of style and role in the fashion industry. There are plenty of people in the industry to look up to, but all you can be is the best you.
You’d better come with your workboots laced and tied and Balenciagas in hand if you plan to make it in the fashion industry. You don’t have to have a college degree to make it big, and no one gets to start at the top. There are plenty of ways to make a living in the world of couture, and you could meet plenty of interesting people from around the globe. What other job would you want?
