r/fashiondesigner

In short, I love fashion. My dream is to make clothes I like and maybe even create my own brand. I would love to learn it more deeply and get a degree in fashion eventualy. However I am not sure where to start. I have never designed or made a piece of clothing by myslef. Therefore I'm not sure where to start. I would like to know where should I start in order to get myself more into fashion design. Are there any basics I should learn?

I work at a small embroidery atelier in India that focuses entirely on traditional hand embroidery — Lucknowi Chikankari, Zardozi, and Mukaish work — applied to garments like Abayas, Kaftans, and Jalabiyas.

I've noticed these techniques don't get much discussion in fashion design communities despite being genuinely extraordinary — Zardozi is raised gold threadwork that originated in Persia, and a single panel can take a craftsman weeks. Chikankari is shadow-work embroidery where the design only becomes visible when held to light.

A few things I find fascinating from a design standpoint:

— Fabric choice completely changes how embroidery reads. The same Chikankari pattern on mul mul cotton looks delicate and airy; on silk organza, mulmul cotton it becomes architectural.

— Mukaish (tiny metallic dots hammered into fabric) creates a texture that photographs almost like sequins but moves completely differently on the body.

— Zardozi is one of the few embroidery forms where the weight of the thread itself becomes a design element — you can build sculptural relief.

I've been thinking about how little Western fashion education covers these crafts despite their enormous influence on global embroidery traditions.

Anyone here working with Indian embroidery techniques or incorporating them into contemporary design? Curious what challenges people face sourcing or adapting them.

The more I study fashion, the more one thing bothers me.

Some designers spend months creating pieces with extraordinary craftsmanship.

They sketch.

They drape.

They obsess over every detail.

And then the collection is shown to a handful of people… and disappears.

Meanwhile, the market is flooded with pieces that all start to feel the same.

As a customer, it makes me wonder:

How much remarkable work never reaches the people who would truly value it?

For those of you in fashion:

Why do so many talented designers struggle to get discovered?

What do you think is broken?

I’d genuinely love to hear your perspective.

Hey guys,

I'm looking to throw some time and money at a product line, but the product in question isn't really already a typical design.

I have a healthy amount of capital and access to investment, if the design phase/manufacturing samples go well.

Is it a strange request to ask a designer to sign an NDA prior to commissioning their work? I'm kinda worried that the product line could be copied before establishing a brand.

Where would you guys recommend I look for a designer with experience in sport/outerwear CAD design experience?

**I'm not actively looking to hire from this group** just searching for info on where designer portfolios can be found. (Sub rules)**

I really appreciate any feedback and help on it.

Thankyou!

Hi! I do ballet and was thinking of using a modern/dress like costume for a contemporary piece. My cousin studies at UAL london and she told me a while back that lots of uni students would be willing to do commissions for ballet costumes. Does anyone know what websites i could connect with them on, or if this type of practice is allowed? And are there any alternatives?

I thought fashion photoshoots were a small pain point. Turns out I was very wrong.

A few months ago, I started working on a side project after noticing the same problem come up again and again with small fashion brands.

They always needed more content.

Not once every few months, but constantly.

New drops, product pages, ads, social posts, seasonal campaigns, different models, different backgrounds, different styles.

And the traditional way of doing that is still pretty painful.

Coordinating a shoot, finding a model, getting the studio or location right, doing the edits, waiting for the final photos, and hoping the result matches what you had in mind.

So I started building something to see if AI could make that workflow simpler.

Not as a replacement for every proper campaign shoot, but as a faster way for brands to create usable product and model visuals when they don’t have the time or budget for a full production.

I honestly thought it would be a small experiment.

But it’s now crossed 2,000 brands before I’ve properly launched it, which made me realize the problem is probably bigger than I expected.

I’ve been working on it almost every evening and weekend since then, mostly talking to users, fixing what breaks, and trying to make the outputs more useful for real brands.

Still early.

Still imperfect.

Still a lot to improve.

But it’s been one of the clearest signals I’ve had that I might be building into a real need, not just an interesting idea.

Curious if anyone else here working in fashion/ecommerce has felt the same content creation pressure.

Hello, this may be slightly long but I’m looking for some advice. I was recommended posting in this subreddit. I am a psych student in my early 20s and have lovedddd all things fashion and sewing since I was around 8. I got my first sewing machine when I was 10, have an A level in art and still sew, knit, embroider and anything else textiles I can get my hands on to this day. Now I’m about to complete my masters degree in psychology and all I can think about is how I wish I went with my gut at 18 and did something more fashion focused. So I suppose my question is does anyone have any advice about how I can get more into fashion in my spare time? I’m not sure what routes there are, or job opportunities fashion related when you live in a rural area. I don’t want to go back to school (student loans are mainly why so anything free I am open to), but feel like my skills aren’t actually as good as they can be. I’m looking for any tips, advice, free courses or literally any knowledge at all to help me figure out how I can better my skills, how I could up my socials presence and what job opportunities there could be. Any advice would be appreciated!

When I first started designing clothing concepts, most of my attention went toward visuals. Silhouettes, proportions, graphics, and overall styling felt like the most important part of the process.

And honestly, on paper or in mockups, a lot of ideas looked strong.

But once I started turning those concepts into physical samples, I realized how incomplete a design can feel if you only think visually.

Some garments that looked great digitally suddenly felt awkward once worn. Certain fabrics changed the entire mood of the piece, construction details affected how the silhouette moved, and even small stitching choices changed whether something felt intentional or cheap.

What surprised me most is how difficult it is to predict this before seeing a real sample in motion.

Now I feel like fashion design is less about creating a perfect static image and more about understanding how materials, movement, texture, and construction all work together once the garment exists in real life.

Curious when other designers here started thinking beyond sketches and began designing more around actual wear experience.

Hello Fashionistas!! I am considering going to fashion school, but want to know if anyone in the field can help me gauge whether it is worth it.

My local (and relativley affordable) university has an Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design major. According to the school's website, students who graduate with this major go on to work at department stoes in the cities. This university also selects students every year to attend FIT for a year to earn an associates degree there, which is awesome!

I could also potentially attend University of Minnesota for Apperal Design if I somehow became super rich haha. Or worked hard and landed a scholarship. But I don't believe it is necessary unless you guys think I should try!

I'm not looking to be an independent fashion designer or open a boutique. I'm leaning toward being a apparel of technical designer since that seems to be common in my region (I'd also like to know what it's like to be one of those?!). I'm also okay with not making a lot of money. LMK what you guys think!!

I would like to learn how to create and design clothing. I want to also learn how to pattern design.

I don't need it to be prestigious. I'm hoping for cost effective schools that still provide solid training where one can feel competent and skilled.

Thank you!

I am currently studying Philosophy in an eastern european country, but i’ve always been in love with styling and fashion design. The closest i’ve gotten to working in the field was when i had a job in retail, but that did not get me very far. I dont want to drop out of the University i currently go to, since I am very pasionate about Philosophy as well and i also think they can go hand in hand. I have no experience in tailoring or stuff but i get told on a daily basis that i have a very unique and outstanding style and i would absolutely love to pursue a career in fashion, i just dont know where to get started.

I’m nearing 15 years as a designer in the industry and honestly, I’m tired. The politics, accelerated calendars, constantly changing workflows, chasing trends and newness nonstop, and the underlying ageism.

I still love design and product, but I’m aggressively trying to pivot into something adjacent. The hard part (which I’ve known for quite awhile) is realizing how specialized fashion is. You spend years refining your skillset, your eye, and expertise that’s so valuable inside the industry, but outside of it, a lot of those skills don’t translate well anywhere else.

Curious how others are feeling right now. Are you still optimistic about staying in fashion long term, or are you to trying find a way out?

Hey! I'm a graphic designer focused on logo design, streetwear graphics, mockups, and full visual identities. I’ve worked on projects for several brands and independent creatives, helping them build strong and modern visuals.

What I can do:
• Logo design & branding
• Streetwear graphics
• Clothing mockups
• Visual identity systems
• Social media assets
• AI-assisted creative workflows

Software & tools:
• Inkscape
• Photoshop
• AI integration for faster and more creative workflows

I’m reliable, easy to work with, and open to both short-term and long-term projects.

Rate: $10–15/hour depending on the project.

DM me if you’re interested or want to see my recent works.