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CAREERS IN THE FIELD OF. TEXTILES, CLOTHING, & DESIGN. Careers in the Textile Industry. Textile research and development.
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CAREERS IN THE FIELD OF... TEXTILES, CLOTHING, & DESIGN
Textile research and development... The purpose of research and development is to provide new knowledge, develop new products, and improve old products. Employees in R & D work in modern, well-equipped laboratories, searching for facts and analyzing them, all in an effort to develop goods that will satisfy the changing wants and needs of consumers and provide the company with a profit. Textile Research Scientists, Laboratory Technicians, and Textile Testers develop new synthetic fibers, blend fibers into fabrics with new qualities, work on different fabric constructions, find new finishes for better fabric performance, and test durability and serviceability of finished fibers, yarns, and fabrics.
Textile design... Textile designers have a fine sense of color, a creative imagination, artistic ability, a knowledge of and interest in the fashion field, and a fascination for beautiful patterns that can be woven, knitted, or printed onto fabrics. The designer creates surface and structural designs to be used for apparel, home and commercial furnishings. A textile colorist takes a particular design and renders it in one or more color combinations. A textile stylist is responsible for determining the overall concept of the fabric line.
Textile production... Steps in textile production include opening bales of fibers, cleaning and straightening the fibers, and spinning the fibers into yarns. The yarns are then woven, knitted, or matted into fabrics. The new textiles goods are chemically or mechanically colored and finished. Textile converters, production supervisors, machine operators, quality control inspectors, machine technicians, plant engineers, and industrial engineers are specific careers in the textile production field.
Textile marketing and sales... The fabric created in the textile production process must now be sold to manufacturers, so it can actually be constructed into apparel, home or commercial furnishings. Textile sales representatives, sales trainees, textiles sales managers, and textile advertising and promotion agents work in this domain of the textile industry.
Careers in Apparel Design & Production
Apparel designers, also called fashion designers, create new ideas for garments and accessories. Apparel design... They often specialize in men’s, women’s, or children’s wear and may concentrate in one area such as lingerie or shoes. Couture designers, those specializing in high quality and custom made clothes, usually design two major collections per year. The field is very difficult to enter, and includes the fashion designers, assistant designers, sketching employees, and sample makers. They must be very knowledgeable about construction methods.
Apparel manufacturing... Apparel manufacturing is the labor-intensive production of large quantities of garments. Ready-to-wear apparel is mass-produced along factory assembly lines. Pattern makers translate apparel designs into pattern pieces. Pattern graders cut patterns in all the different sizes. Pattern markers transfer the paper patterns to layout on fabric. Pattern spreaders actually prepare the fabric for cutting, and the cutters cut through many layers of fabric at once . Pattern assorters assemble the cutout parts for sewing. Sewing machine operators construct the apparel on industrial power sewing machines in piece-work fashion, meaning they perform just one specific task over and over and then pass it on to another operator for the next step. The garment finishers do necessary handsewing. Trimmers and inspectors and pressers clean and examine the garment. An alteration hand repairs defects.
Production management... Like all big businesses, the apparel production industry needs business managers to plan, organize, coordinate, and oversee the work of others. They might include product managers, plant managers, production assistants, supervisors, piece goods buyers, industrial engineers, costing engineers, quality control engineers, and plant engineers.
Sales and distribution... Manufacturing firms sell their finished goods to retail establishments so consumers can buy them. Production sales offices and showrooms are in fashion centers such as New York City and Dallas. Showroom sales representatives show products to buyers who visit their showroom. Traveling sales representatives take sample garments and fabric swatches out to the retailers, and work under the direction of sales managers. Market research employees or market analysts study and analyze consumer habits. Apparel distributors actually get the merchandise to the proper locations after the sale is made.
Textile and apparel production administration... Administration is the overall management of the company, overseeing and coordinating development manufacturing, and marketing of fabrics and or apparel. Chief executive officers, personnel administrators, accounting and finance employees, data processing employees, business planners, public relations agents, and purchasing agents are all part of the textile administration team.
Retail job opportunities... Fashion merchandising is a giant field involving all functions of planning, buying, and selling of textile/apparel items. Opportunities exist in large and small department stores, chain stores, discount stores, variety stores, and specialty stores. They are also in mail-order houses, catalog stores, manufacturers’ outlet stores, internet stores, and some at-home retail selling companies. To succeed in retailing, and especially to earn promotions, you need to be outgoing, well-organized, able to move and think quickly, and able to get along with other people. You will want knowledge of accounting and merchandise math, consumer motivation issues, fashion marketing, and sales promotions. A background in textiles, garment construction, advertising, economics, and/or psychology is also valuable.
Merchandise planning and buying... Retail buyers are responsible for selecting and purchasing goods for their companies. Their goal is to make a profit for the company when the goods are sold. They must estimate future demand for merchandise they buy The buyer must determine quantities of various styles, colors, sizes, prices, and fashion emphasis…all within a certain budget. The buyer travels “to market” at fashion centers such as New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, London several times a year. They must anticipate customer trends, have technical knowledge about the merchandise and a keen sense for business. They work long, irregular hours and under pressure.
Direct retail sales... The retail salesperson, or sales clerk, deals directly with the customer in helping them find what they want and promoting sales. The customer service manager handles complaints and deals with special needs such as gift wrapping or delivery. The alterations expert takes in, lets out, and reshapes garments for a perfect fit. Comparison shoppers compare the merchandise offered by competitive stores with their own store. Personal shoppers or fashion consultants selects merchandise for customers in response to requests…even by mail or telephone.
Store operations... Stock clerks receive merchandise from trucks, open and unpack containers, check the number and condition of products, attach price tags, place items on hangers as needed, and take goods to the proper departments. Cashiers ring up purchases, collect money, record payment, and bag or wrap purchases. Secretaries, office managers, billing agents and accountants, maintenance workers and security guards all provide support.
Retail management... Merchandise managers are concerned with total sales and profits of one or more departments. Store managers oversee all aspects of the store’s operation including hiring, training, and scheduling of workers. They provide the store leadership. Another step up is the branch or district manager, coordinating several stores within a geographic area. A fashion coordinator or director makes sure that all fashion departments of a large retail business are kept updated on newest fashion trends. They assemble an harmonize the merchandise, making sure clothing and accessories are coordinated and displayed together. The fashion coordinator would be in charge of store-sponsored fashion shows. They must work closely with buyers on store image and fashion trends.
Fashion advertising... The point of advertising is to attract and entice customers to buy products. Positions in fashion advertising include account executives, art directors, graphic designers, layout artists, paste-up/mechanical artists, and advertising directors.
Fashion display... Display designers, sometimes called display artists or window dressers, must understand lighting techniques, accessorizing, and the use of props. They must have a good imagination; a knowledge of carpentry and sewing would be helpful.
Showing off fashion... Fashion editors, writers, photographers and copywriters are a specialized segment of the journalism industry. Fashion illustrators work for retail stores, pattern companies, and advertising agencies. Models must learn to stand, turn, pose, and walk to show off the best features of the clothes.
Fashion publicity... Joan and Melissa Rivers narrate “Inside the Oscars”, talking about celebrity fashions worn to the awards ceremony. Those fashions are the newest couture, but need the high regard of the publicists. Publicity sets trends and sells clothes. You might not look like these models and celebrities, but you can dress like them. That’s the message the publicity agent must present.
Educators... Classroom teachers are found in middle and high schools, trade schools, colleges, and universities, and in adult education classes. County extension agents work for the Dept. of Agriculture serving urban and rural areas. They focus on 4-H clubs, community organizations, and individual families.
The home sewing industry... This industry includes sales of the machines, notions, fabrics, and patterns needed by the home sewer, plus the books, magazines, radio and television shows, advertisements, and videotapes used by them. The home sewer may limit their skills to sewing for themselves and their families, or as an entrepreneur starting their own custom sewing business.
Costumes... Researching, designing, creating, and storing costumes are all part of the theatrical costumers responsibility as they are in charge of wardrobes for stage or screen. The costume historian or curator deals with fabrics and apparel from the past. They carefully identify, restore, and preserve garments for museums, libraries, and recreations.
Textile care and maintenance is a leading service industry, primarily in commercial laundry and dry cleaning establishments, but also in institutions and linen supply. Clothing care... Jobs are available for spotters, operators, sewers, inspectors, baggers, and attendants.
CAREERS IN THE FIELD OF... TEXTILES, CLOTHING, & DESIGN The End
