The fashion industry spans the globe and offers a wide range of career opportunities for talented, creative individuals who are prepared to work hard in a challenging, competitive environment. Ireland has a number of internationally recognised fashion designers such as Simone Rocha and Paul Costello. Lots of skilled new Irish designers are also making their mark on the world stage with collections in cashmere, tweed, wool, silk, linen and leather. Clothing manufacture has declined in Ireland and moved to lower cost economies. The clothing market remains highly competitive but demand for luxury items and designer brands remains strong. Traditional knitwear such as the aran sweater continue to excel alongside a number of manufacturers producing often upmarket niche products on a smaller scale.
Fashion Designers work independently or collaborate as part of a team in retail, manufacturing or design studios. They may work in high street fast fashion, costume design for TV, film and theatre, design their own ready to wear collections or in haute couture. They use their creativity and technical knowledge to create new designs for clothing and accessories. They oversee the production process including the selection of materials, pattern cutting, modifications and showcasing their designs at fashion and trade shows. High quality design aligned to a company’s commercial goals are essential to its success.
Fashion Buyers work as part of a team carrying out market research, forecasting trends, building relationships with suppliers, attending fashion events and making important purchasing decisions. Fashion Merchandisers work closely with fashion buyers to plan and curate what brands to stock by researching consumer behaviour and keeping abreast of fashion trends. They ensure that the right product is available at the right price and time to meet customer needs and are responsible for promoting products to maximise sales. Other roles include Fashion Marketers who manage advertising campaigns, help customers build an emotional connection to their brand and increasingly work with influencers who play an important role in attracting customers.
Fashion Stylists help select clothing, accessories and props working in areas such as fashion shoots, catwalks or for private individuals such as celebrity clients. Personal shoppers assist and advise clients both in person and online offering expert advice to create a personalised look.
Circular fashion where clothes are resold, recycled or rented is forecast to grow in response to concerns over the fashion industry’s environmental impact and customer demands for more sustainable fashion. Ecommerce, IT and marketing skills will be required for the clothing rental sector alongside an interest in fashion.
Fashion and technology are set to become more integrated with 3D printing, body scanning apps and augmented reality allowing customers to try a product before they buy. Wearable technology is being embedded into clothing which can record fitness, regulate temperature and can even monitor heart and stress levels.
A list of Fashion courses is available using the Course Finder toolhere.