1. The Apparel Design Field

l Manpower Needs

v The creative expression of the design staff is even more important in the apparel segment of the fashion industry than in other textile segments.

v The size and personnel of the design staff varies from firm to firm.

v Small firms

v Moderate-sized firms

v Large firms

v The responsibilities and activities of designers also vary from place to place depending upon the size of the firm and the nature of its products.

v Designing and supervising the design workroom

v Involving in every step of the production of the line from the original idea to the completed garment.

v Once a design has been created:

v A pattern must be made

v Fabric can be cut and sewn into a sample or trial garment by the designer or a pattern making assistant

v A sample maker who works closely with the designer sews the sample garment and make revisions where the designer thinks necessary

l Desired Competencies

v Designers work with line, color, shape and texture

v Basic competencies:

v Creative and productive imagination

v A keen interest in fashion

v Specialized expert preparation in particular techniques of pattern making, sewing, draping, cutting and fashion drawing

v Conversant with the nature of fabrics, the construction of garments and be knowledgeable about manufacturing processes and ultimate customer

l Educational preparation

v Sketching, draping and pattern making

v Helpful and applicable for a career in apparel design: Fashion drawing, pattern development, clothing construction, basic textiles and the historical development of fashion.

v Vocational skills:

v Contribute to the social, civic and personal development

v Deepen their understanding of the economic and humanistic forces which influence the industry

v Stress communication skills and problem solving (for all students)

v Study in art appreciation, social science and arithmetic

l Occupational Opportunities

v The designing responsibility is rarely entrusted to a beginner, even a fantastically talented one.

v Well-prepared beginners, aside from opening their own boutiques or custom dressmaking shops have access to a number of entry jobs below the designer's level from which they can progress.

v Jobs as fashion sketchers, sample makers, assistants to patternmakers or graders, and design room trainees are all paths that can lead to positions as assistant designers and designers.

v The design activities of the industry are quite geographically concentrated in Taipei City.

v In short, beginning jobs and career opportunities are everywhere for all those who love fashion and fabrics, understand garment construction, have specialized preparation in practical techniques of pattern making, sewing, draping and fashion sketching, and can interpret their ideas in practical and commercially saleable way.

Occupation	Places of Employment	What workers do
Instructor Trainer	l Apparel Factories	l Indoctrinate and train new workers l Retrain experience workers l Oversee job performance
Dressmaker (D)	l Custom Dressmakers l Custom Boutiques	l Cut and sew a complete garment for an individual customer
Fitter (DP)	l Retail Stores	l Pin and chalk mark adjustments on the finished garment so that it will fit the individual customer after alteration
Designer (D)	l Manufacturers l Boutiques	l Design a new collection of garments every season l Sketch idea, select fabrics and trimmings l Supervise the construction of first samples l Often work with buyer and travel to stores across the country to promote sales
Assistant Designer (D)	l Manufacturers	l Drape and draft first pattern l Supervise sample maker l Work closely with the designer
Sample Maker (D)	l Manufacturer's Sample Rooms	l Sew the first sample l Work directly with the designer or assistant designer
Patternmaker (DP)	l Manufacturers	l Develop a perfect pattern from the first sample l May have to subtly adjust proportions to fit stock sizes without changing the style of the garment l Sometimes work from a sketch
Grader (P)	l Apparel Factories	l Proportionately expand and contract the perfected sample sized stock pattern into patterns for an entire size range
Marker Maker (D)	l Apparel Factories	l Make a production cutting layout of all the pattern pieces for a style in an entire size range
Production Supervisor (P)	l Apparel Factories	l Coordinate all production activities of subordinate personnel l Determine how job will be performed l Train workers and oversee performance
Quality Controller (P)	l Apparel Factories	l Inspect product during various stages of production to ascertain conformance with specifications l Notify appropriate supervisor or foreman or return to affected operator for correction

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