Fashion Education and Training for Beginners

Where to get fashion education and training for beginners
By Nikki Wheeler Finding success in fashion design is dependent on the right fashion education and training. While a fashion degree is extremely important in overall career preparation, an understanding of the fundamental principles surrounding fashion design can be pursued long before college.
 

In many cases, getting into a great fashion design school program requires some experience before even stepping foot on campus. Jump-start a successful career by learning about fashion design early on, or expand a current business into the fashion industry with basic training. Before starting the process of fashion education and training for beginners, consider the following:

1. Become an expert with the technical construction side of fashion training.

2. Understand the artistic and creative part of fashion education and training.

3. Know that business is a big part of fashion education and training as well.

Learn drawing for fashion training

Fashion schools require students to take drawing and painting classes to learn fashion illustration and rendering. Fashion designers create drawings to represent and communicate their ideas in two dimensions before translating them into three dimensional works of art.
Try: Watch free online video tutorials featuring basic drawing lessons by Graspr. Register for a free account to gain access to fashion illustration and figure drawing lessons at Fashion Sketches.

Take sewing fashion courses

Fashion designing education concentrates heavily on sewing techniques. A fashion designer needs to be expert at sewing, sewing quickly and paying close attention to technical details and how clothing fits on the body.
Try: Find free sewing projects and tips, sewing eBooks and class listings at Squidoo. Take a Creative University sewing class at various levels from Jo-Ann Stores, available at store locations across the nation.

Know the design elements and principles taught in fashion schools

The basic design elements and principles are one of the first things taught in fashion schools, and are taken into consideration each time clothing is designed by even the most experienced fashion designers. The elements and principles include things like line, shape, color, form, texture, balance, harmony and unity.
Try: Read about the elements and principles of design in depth at JohnLovett.com and Princeton Online.

Include study of the fashion industry in fashion training

A fashion designer needs to have a keen understanding of the business side of fashion and the marketability of clothing. It is essential for a designer to not only stay on top of industry trends, but have the foresight to anticipate where trends are going next; the best way to do this is to know the industry inside and out and read voraciously about industry news.
Try: Stay on top of the fashion industry by joining the Fashion Industry Network and regularly reading the online magazine, The Fashion Industry.