Very often, people think that a career in fashion is linear, just like a career in law, engineering, or medicine. I used to think the same when I started in fashion. But while working at Alexander McQueen, Yoox Net-a-porter, and Kering, I discovered that fashion is not linear at all, and that successful people in fashion don’t just stick to one role.
To succeed in certain areas of the fashion industry, you need to learn about several different careers.
Let me show you why.
Reason #1: It’s the best way to understand what roles you really like.
When I started my career in fashion, I was interested in the management side, but I didn’t know exactly which role, as I didn’t have a lot of information.
I was also torn apart between creativity and business. While I never wanted to become a designer, I knew I had some creativity in me I wanted to express.
You might feel the same way. And if that’s the case, there is even more reason to learn about the different careers. It’s only through learning and trying that you will truly understand what you like and don’t.
I’ve seen it many times: students who join my courses wanting to become designers and end up realizing that they prefer to ‘play’ with clothes as fashion buyers. And vice versa.
Reason #2: Fashion is a system, and you need to understand it all
If you are just starting now, you might have a clear path in mind — and that’s actually a good thing. As most people struggle finding their calling. You might want to become a stylist, a designer, or a buyer, or work in marketing. And recruiters appreciate people who know what they want. However, one thing I noticed is that when people know which job in fashion is right for them, they focus all their learning on that role and don’t learn about other aspects of the industry — very little or not at all.
Fashion is a system. All roles are interconnected. And you should always have a bigger picture in mind.
For example, an editorial stylist isn’t just styling looks; they collaborate with PRs to get clothes for shootings. Designers don’t plan the collection alone; they work with buyers and merchandisers to support their decisions with analysis and commercial strategy. And while fashion professionals help each other because they are all more specialized in specific areas, we still need to understand the basics of as many roles as possible and the industry as a whole. Learning fashion fundamentals is crucial.
The most successful fashion professionals — the ones working at Dior, Vogue, and Prada — didn’t just master one thing. They developed a multi-dimensional skill set: Marketing, Trend forecasting, Styling, PR & Brand Strategy, etc.
That’s the kind of attitude that gets you hired and advances your career after you get your first job. That’s why for my upcoming Summer Fashion Camp, I decided to offer masterclasses about different fashion careers.
Summer Fashion Camp
During 8 weeks, starting June 16th, you will learn from top industry professionals from Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and the fashion startup Phia (and me 🙂 ) and immerse yourself into the worlds of fashion editorial, styling, marketing & PR, product development, trend forecasting, and more! You will then work on practical projects that simulate a fashion internship and build you a portfolio.
Whether you’re dreaming of becoming a stylist, a marketer, or a fashion editor, understanding how the entire system works will make you 10x more valuable.
This summer, you have the chance to gain the expertise before you even land a real internship or job, and become the open-minded and versatile professional recruiters are looking for. So join the Summer Fashion Camp, and turn your summer into the most career-defining experience of your life!
