...I want to be a Visual Merchandiser.
It is an area that I have always had an interest in, as it is a big part of the presentation of final outcomes of the garments and is essential for the sales for the business.
To achieve this I would have to gain more computer skills in order to design floor plans and 3D ideas. I would also have to gain more knowledge into the promotion of fashion and research how visual merchandising is being completed by different businesses in different markets.
Monday, 1 June 2009
Careers- Visual Merchandiser
A visual merchandiser creates window and interior displays in shops and department stores. They are responsible for the look of the store, making it attractive to customers and therefore increasing sales.
Their job would entail many tasks, including- conducting research to find out the latest trends, sketching ideas, deciding the placement of objects within store- mannequins, lighting, etc, and creating ideas that could be brought into all the stores and would suit their position, place in the market and its customers.
Hours would vary, as weekend and late evening work would be needed to put up displays, as to to minimise disruption for customers and the store itself.
The starting salary for a visual merchandiser is £14,000-£16,000 rising to £20,000 with experience on board.
You would work with staff in the stores where displays are present, head office to finalize ideas and other visual merchandisers to help come up with a vision. This job can be antisocial, for its hours but ultimately, you would gain satisfaction in having your displays around the country and knowing you would be attracting people to the store.
Their job would entail many tasks, including- conducting research to find out the latest trends, sketching ideas, deciding the placement of objects within store- mannequins, lighting, etc, and creating ideas that could be brought into all the stores and would suit their position, place in the market and its customers.
Hours would vary, as weekend and late evening work would be needed to put up displays, as to to minimise disruption for customers and the store itself.
The starting salary for a visual merchandiser is £14,000-£16,000 rising to £20,000 with experience on board.
You would work with staff in the stores where displays are present, head office to finalize ideas and other visual merchandisers to help come up with a vision. This job can be antisocial, for its hours but ultimately, you would gain satisfaction in having your displays around the country and knowing you would be attracting people to the store.
Careers- Pattern Cutter
In this job, the pattern cutter is responsible for turning a designer’s sketch into a working pattern, which can be used when constructing the garment.
On a day to day basis, their task would be to create a working pattern using a variety of techniques- moulage, CAD and flat pattern cutting.
General working hours would be between 37 and 39 hours a week. Overtime hours may be required when working to deadlines.
To succeed within this area of work, it would be useful to have a good ability to interpret designers working drawings, a good knowledge of garment construction and good IT skills to work to your best potential.
The drawbacks would include, the garment design changing many times over, meaning to change the cut of the pattern at a moments notice and not having a full opinion on what designs you are cutting.
Most pattern cutters would work individually but as part an overall team, creating individual designs with a designers collection. They would work with other fashion designers, machinists and pattern graders.
The salary starts from £11,000 and £18,000 a year. Culminating in over £20,000 a year for experienced pattern cutters.
On a day to day basis, their task would be to create a working pattern using a variety of techniques- moulage, CAD and flat pattern cutting.
General working hours would be between 37 and 39 hours a week. Overtime hours may be required when working to deadlines.
To succeed within this area of work, it would be useful to have a good ability to interpret designers working drawings, a good knowledge of garment construction and good IT skills to work to your best potential.
The drawbacks would include, the garment design changing many times over, meaning to change the cut of the pattern at a moments notice and not having a full opinion on what designs you are cutting.
Most pattern cutters would work individually but as part an overall team, creating individual designs with a designers collection. They would work with other fashion designers, machinists and pattern graders.
The salary starts from £11,000 and £18,000 a year. Culminating in over £20,000 a year for experienced pattern cutters.
Careers- High Street Fashion Designer
The main aim for this type of fashion design is to create a designer ready to wear product that can be produced as a high street version in less than 6 weeks. They design garments that can be produced in their thousands, with a quick turnaround in the design process, as fashion is fast moving and can change day by day.
Salary's start from £14,000-£18,000, £30,000 to £35,000 for junior designers right up to £30,000-£60,000 for head designers.
There is usually extra hours for when deadlines need to be met. These can be antisocial with times when it may not suit the designer, but would suit the business. Working alongside pattern cutters, machinists, other designers and buyers to create the final garment.
You have to be able to handle criticism and can be a hard position to be hired into- within the current economic climate.
However, it is a creative job, with lots of potential to be imaginative. It can also be rewarding, seeing people wearing your garment that you helped create- being sold to a massive high street market.
Salary's start from £14,000-£18,000, £30,000 to £35,000 for junior designers right up to £30,000-£60,000 for head designers.
There is usually extra hours for when deadlines need to be met. These can be antisocial with times when it may not suit the designer, but would suit the business. Working alongside pattern cutters, machinists, other designers and buyers to create the final garment.
You have to be able to handle criticism and can be a hard position to be hired into- within the current economic climate.
However, it is a creative job, with lots of potential to be imaginative. It can also be rewarding, seeing people wearing your garment that you helped create- being sold to a massive high street market.
Shadowing A Third Year...
For the past 4 weeks I have been helping a third year with the preparation for their final degree show. Rav Matharu based his collection- 'End Of The Beginning' upon urban street wear with a classic, smart touch.
He has his own website http://www.clothsurgeon.com/ where you can find lots more about him, his work and his label.
He has his own website http://www.clothsurgeon.com/ where you can find lots more about him, his work and his label.He gave me many tasks to do including styling one of his test photoshoots for his lookbook, displaying leaflets about his collection around college and lots of pattern cutting for his final hand in.
Shadowing him gave me some idea as to what it is like in the third year, the work and the ideas, showing me just how much needs to be done to complete the final collection. It leaves me being a bit more prepared a for my second year, as that is a massive influence upon my third year also.
The Mad Hatter...
During my half term week at college, I took part in my Millinery elective. At first it seemed like it wouldn't take me a week to produce a basic hat. I was wrong. The felt took a life time to mould and stretch into place, and along with the bendiest pins in the world, at the time it seemed impossible to think it would ever get finished. My thumbs were bruised and my hands ached, but after three days it started to take shape- a mad hatter inspired hat with netting, for a feminine touch.
To make a hat takes alot of skill, patience and expertise. It is something that would take longer than a week to learn to a high standard, but, from what I was taught in the space of 4 days is something I will always remember and would be able to recreate again. I would defiantly want to explore this further, as I find the whole processes fascinating- hand made hats are delicate. I would like to experiment with different ideas and techniques to progress and make another one in the future.
To make a hat takes alot of skill, patience and expertise. It is something that would take longer than a week to learn to a high standard, but, from what I was taught in the space of 4 days is something I will always remember and would be able to recreate again. I would defiantly want to explore this further, as I find the whole processes fascinating- hand made hats are delicate. I would like to experiment with different ideas and techniques to progress and make another one in the future.
Karma Chameleon...
This being the final project brief for the year I wanted to make sure I took all that I have learnt from this year, about myself and my work, and produce a unit that each area was done to its highest. Before I started the unit, I had a fabric manipulation workshop, exploring wax pots, heat press and general sewing techniques to create different, interesting fabrics that could be used within our final designs. I really enjoyed this as it was a different way of experimenting, figuring out what would work, and what, would be a total disaster.
Within my research, I did many sheets that were about a variety of things to do with Metamorphosis, but from the manipulated fabrics I made, I was drawn to focus upon chameleons, and more upon their skin- how it changes colour and can adapt as a camouflage for the animal.
I also completed a workshop upon moulage pattern cutting. This involved flattening calico upon a mannequin and cutting areas out to create the garment. Then, when taken off the mannequin, it is layed out and a pattern is drawn. I instantly was drawn to this technique, as I liked the way in which the garment is created. I chose to use this idea within my final garment as it was another skill that I had learnt this year.
I wanted to make something that would use the ideas I has took from the fabric workshops, taking certain ideas that reflected the chameleons scale like skin. I decided upon a dress with an removable skirt/apron, that would be reversible, to camouflage itself.
I was pleased with this unit, as I found I controlled my time much better. I made lists and notes about what to do and when for. I spread my work out more over time and in the end, I was not rushed into the final stages of the work. This made me enjoy creating my work more and, I feel, created a better outcome, when being handed in.
Within my research, I did many sheets that were about a variety of things to do with Metamorphosis, but from the manipulated fabrics I made, I was drawn to focus upon chameleons, and more upon their skin- how it changes colour and can adapt as a camouflage for the animal.
I also completed a workshop upon moulage pattern cutting. This involved flattening calico upon a mannequin and cutting areas out to create the garment. Then, when taken off the mannequin, it is layed out and a pattern is drawn. I instantly was drawn to this technique, as I liked the way in which the garment is created. I chose to use this idea within my final garment as it was another skill that I had learnt this year.
I wanted to make something that would use the ideas I has took from the fabric workshops, taking certain ideas that reflected the chameleons scale like skin. I decided upon a dress with an removable skirt/apron, that would be reversible, to camouflage itself.
I was pleased with this unit, as I found I controlled my time much better. I made lists and notes about what to do and when for. I spread my work out more over time and in the end, I was not rushed into the final stages of the work. This made me enjoy creating my work more and, I feel, created a better outcome, when being handed in.
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