How To Work In Fashion Event Production 

If you are following the fashion shows of your favorite brands and you are interested in becoming part of the team that produces fashion events, you are in the right place, as in this article, we are going to talk about fashion event production. 

Fashion producers are essential to the fashion industry. All the biggest events you can think of wouldn’t be made possible without a leader and their team bringing them to life. Fashion shows, product launches, press events, exhibitions, gala, award ceremonies, store openings, and other fashion events help brands gain exposure and promote a new product or collection, so it’s essential that they run smoothly and also stand out creatively.

Working in Fashion Event Production is an exciting yet demanding field that combines creativity, logistical prowess, and a knack for managing chaos into a visually stunning and smoothly executed spectacle. Those who organize fashion events have the incredible creativity + organizational ability to transform a bare venue into a runway location or a spectacular set to present a new product.

However, behind its glamorous part, there are a lot of tasks that fall on the shoulders of one person – the fashion event manager/coordinator/producer. Actually, the career ladder of a fashion event producer is one of the highest in the industry because of the large amount of responsibilities assigned to it. 

But everyone has to start somewhere. Even the biggest fashion show producers did. So in this article, let’s get to know this interesting career in fashion and navigate through the qualifications and skills required for it. We will also explain how to start from scratch to work in fashion event production so that your lack of experience in the fashion industry (if that’s the case) doesn’t stop you from getting your dream fashion career. 

How To Work In Fashion Event Production

Careers in Fashion Event Production

If you want to work in event fashion production, there are different career possibilities. You can work for:

• A specific brand; so if they work at Louis Vuitton, they only take care of Louis Vuitton events; 
• A production company that organizes all kinds of events for different brands (such as the famous Bureau Betak, Blonstein, La Mode en Images…)
• Advertising agencies
• PR firms (As you know, the role of a PR manager can include event organization in their list of tasks.)
• Some fashion producers may also work as freelancers, taking on individual projects or working with multiple clients.

If you are interested in organizing fashion events there are different career paths you can explore, depending on what you want to specialize in. Putting up a fashion event together involves many parts: the logistics, designing the space, the sound, the lights, booking models, etc…

Event Producer

A fashion event producer is the leader of the event organization team. Their range of tasks can include: 

• Coordinating the logistics of the event, such as finding the venue, building the space and creating the mood of the event, putting the decor, setting up lighting and sound, assigning the seating, etc. 
• Hiring teams of professionals, including the models (if it’s for a fashion show), performers (if there is a concert or dance show involved) caterers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, etc. This involves managing their contracts as well.
• Sending the invitations and RSVPs
• Preventing and managing risks that may come in the way
• Managing the budget
• Developing marketing strategies to promote fashion events and increase brand awareness
• On the day of the event, a producer has to ensure all the components of the event and the different teams are in place so that the event runs smoothly.
• After the event, the producer’s job is not over yet, as they have to gather feedback and insights to report back to the client.

Of course, events of such a big scale are not managed but 1 person; they are a result of collaborative work. So producers manage large teams, with the help of assistants of course, and work closely with designers, models, stylists, makeup artists, photographers, and other professionals to ensure that everything runs according to plan.

Fashion Event Coordinator/Manager

A fashion event coordinator’s/manager’s responsibilities are pretty similar to the ones of the event producer, but the main difference is that the latter work at production companies, while the event coordinator/manager works at a brand.

Pro tip: read the job description carefully, as the degree of your responsibilities may vary significantly depending on if it’s an event assistant, coordinator, or manager’s position. Some companies can also interchange the job titles “coordinator” and “manager”, so pay attention to this.

Set Designer 

The set designer is responsible for building the set where the event is taking place. Using their skills in art and creativity, but also in architecture and engineering, they design immersive environments that align with the event’s theme and purpose. This can include taking care of the decoration, lighting, sound, special effects, and other things to create a functioning and visually appealing scenery.

Fashion PR

Although fashion PRs are not technically producers, they can still be involved in the organization of an event. Their role expands to ensuring a proper visibility and media presence of the brand during the event, so they can be in charge of welcoming guests, taking care of the social profiles during the event, and sending photos of it to the publications the following day.

Fashion Event Production Skills 

Fashion event production is a multi-faceted role that requires a unique combination of creative and business skills. Take a look at the most required ones. 

Project management

Organizing a fashion event comes with a big responsibility. Whether it’s a small-scale event like a presentation or a large-scale event like a fashion show, the success of the event can have a positive or negative impact on the brand’s reputation. Imagine that you (your client) expect guests (often high-profile) and a media presence. So it’s very important everything goes according to the plan, and for this, solid project management is the foundation of a successful event. You need to set clear goals (that you will discuss with the brand, the designers, etc. beforehand), build a timeframe, complete each task, and monitor progress.

Organization and multi-tasking skills 

When you have a project, it will come as no surprise that you need to be organized among the extensive list of tasks and make sure to complete each of them in time. A fashion event producer or manager is like a chameleon, wearing different hats under the three-word role “fashion event producer”. In addition to taking care of their own tasks, since they collaborate with other teams, it’s not strange to see the producer become a stylist for a day. Moreover, every day is different. One day, they can be working on the Excel sheets planning the event, the next day they will be on the phone with the stakeholders, and the other they will spend their afternoon at the location of the event. And so, the ability to multi-task is a must for an event producer.

Excel 

One tool that is essential to every professional working in fashion event production is Excel. It’s impossible to handle such a large amount of information in your head, and Excel is a lifesaver to have all the tasks organized in front of you, as well as planning and calculating the budget.

Creativity 

When you are in charge of organizing an event in the fashion industry, not only do you have to comply with the minimal requirements, such as the project being delivered on time and with all the necessary components (food and drinks are ready, the decoration is complete…); but you also have to come up with an event that keeps up with the brand’s standards and identity. It requires creativity to make the brand the star of the night and help it stand out and shine in the press so that everyone talks about it the following day and remembers it for years. The reason why some fashion shows became iconic and remembered even decades after is not only because of their impressive collections but also their amazing production. Therefore, the fashion event producer has to use imagination to create an event that will be memorable. Knowledge of current fashion trends and industry developments is very useful for staying relevant and innovative.

Communication and interpersonal skills

Naturally, fashion event producers, coordinators, and PRs don’t organize the event alone, but as much as it can make your job easier, being assisted by people who help you complete all the tasks, you have to supervise them and their work progress. They always have to collaborate with different teams – stylists, designers, models, technicians, caterers…basically, all the people who play a part in the event are under your direct control. As the producer/coordinator/pr communicates with them on a daily basis, they have to have great communication and interpersonal skills.

Budget Management 

A great event producer is not only a great project manager and a creative genius, but also a math savvy. Because fashion producers hold an important budget in their hands, they have to be good with numbers to manage it correctly and keep on top of their tasks.

Attention to detail 

Having good attention to detail is paramount not to lose sight of any small task in your event planning, but also to satisfy the aesthetic part of the event. Small details create great and positive impressions. They make your event project look complete, cohesive, and pulled together. 

Problem-solving 

There will be situations when unexpected things will happen, and you will be confronted with an issue to resolve in an effective and timely manner. One small error or unpredictable situation, like a makeup artist canceling last minute, or the lights not working correctly, can put some steps or areas of the project on hold and result in delays. So as a fashion event producer, you have to present yourself as a problem solver and fix the issue (like finding a replacement or booking a missing item at the minute) so that it has no negative repercussions on the whole project. 

Leadership

All the skills listed above demand a spirit of leadership. A fashion event needs a leader in charge for a smooth organization and a successful outcome. This skill can be developed with time as you gain confidence and experience that will prepare you for being a leader. 

If you don’t master these skills yet, make sure to practice them at least a little before your internship, and then with experience, you will incorporate them more. 

What To Study To Work In Fashion Event Production?

As you can guess, attending a fashion school is not necessary to become a fashion event producer. Of course, you need some industry knowledge and most of all contacts and a good reputation to find the right people who will help you organize the event (especially if you work as a freelancer). But this comes with experience, so not requested at the beginning of your career. 

You can gain the necessary skills through a traditional university degree – for example in project management, event management, communication, or even something like Architecture if you want to be in charge of set design. But if you studied anything else that’s ok as long as you have project management and organizational skills because that’s the foundation of a well-organized project. This is the top hard skill you may need to learn at university or by taking an online course because you need to learn about the project’s specifics, such as the project lifecycle, the budget, and so on. As for the other skills, you can learn them in any degree and transfer from another industry.

How To Start Working In Fashion Event Production?

Look for internships in PR or event management

A fashion event manager is the ultimate destination of the career ladder in this field, and nobody gets there in one day. As I said, managing events comes with a big responsibility. So you won’t be putting on large-scale events for thousands of people at the beginning of your career. Everyone starts from internships/entry-level roles, and this is your entry ticket to the industry too. 

Therefore, if you want to start working in fashion event production, my advice is to look for event or PR internships either at fashion brands, pr agencies, or fashion production agencies that will get you closer to your dream role. 

From there, you can move your way up to becoming a fashion event assistant, then backstage/front of house manager, team manager, and finally event producer. On average, and judging from the job offers I see online, it takes around 10 years to become an event producer. So you need to be patient and perseverent. 

Become A Fashion Week Volunteer

If you love fashion shows and want to learn how to organize them, the best way to immerse yourself in the fashion industry and see how a fashion event is organized live from the inside is to volunteer during fashion week. 

Your help will be needed mostly on the day of the show, and you will be assigned practical tasks like ironing garments and dressing the models. So you won’t technically assist with organizing the show months before (because that goes beyond the scope of volunteering; it’s something you do at a job or an internship so in this case search for those).

That being said, working backstage as a volunteer, you will already get an impression of how a fashion show is produced. When you don’t just watch a fashion show online but see from the inside all the people involved in the process, how much effort is needed, and how stressful it can be, you look at it differently, from an insider’s perspective. You will make your first steps in the world of fashion events, and a valuable experience that you can put on your resume. 

I wrote an article about how to become a fashion week volunteer that you can read here if you are interested. 

How To Find Fashion Event Production Jobs? 

The first thing you can do to look for fashion event production jobs or internships is to go to the official website of the fashion brand or Group to see if they have any open vacancies. Another option is LinkedIn, which is the most popular and best social media platform to look for fashion jobs.

At Glam Observer, we make the job search process easier by featuring the latest fashion jobs and internships every Friday in our 365 days of fashion newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

So these are the official ways to apply. But there is an unconventional strategy to get a buying job or internship: emailing the companies directly. Feel free to reach out to fashion brands, PR agencies, production companies, or even freelance event managers and ask if you can assist them with the next event they are planning. 

See, you don’t want to waste time and opportunities by waiting for brands to post buying jobs online. Be proactive and cold-email them instead and submit a spontaneous application with a strong resume and a customized cover letter. Companies love that; they appreciate people who think outside of the box.

I teach more about emailing companies directly as well as other unconventional strategies inside this free masterclass.