Hilari Holt, a 21-year-old sophomore at Metropolitan Community College, has always dreamed of being famous—as a model, actress and a fashion designer.
Holt is one of many who study fashion in college aspiring to become fashion designers, fashion merchandisers, models, etc., but believe that a college degree isn’t the only thing that’s necessary to get into the fashion business.
While designers like Calvin Klein, Anna Sui, Norman Norell, Clair McCardell, John Galliano, Stella McCarthy, etc. went to fashion school to receive a four year degree, other designers like Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Coco Chanel, etc. believed their talent was enough for them to get recognized.
Britt Benjamin, a fashion professor at Johnson County Community College, Hilari Holt, and Samantha Kenny, a 19-year-old fashion major at Johnson County Community College, think a college degree is crucial for a fashion designer, but experience, determination and networking is just as important.
“For any career in fashion you will start at the bottom, and build connections through networking, interning, etc.,” Holt said. “Just because you start out one way, doesn’t mean you’ll be completely stuck with it forever.”
“Jobs won’t come to a fashion major student, but they must start strong, meet the right people, show what you know and make it happen,” Kenny said. “Definitely takes a lot of self-determination and ambition.”
“I recommend freelancing for a company to get your foot in the door. You can prove yourself by hard work and talent,” Benjamin said.
After receiving a four year fashion degree, freelancing provides a fashion major with experience and exposes them to the fashion industry.
Holt thinks a degree and the amount of experience required depends on what field you want to go in.
“If you already have experience designing, sewing, making patterns, etc., you can be fine getting in the business just to make clothes, but if you want to do more than make clothes, a degree is important,” Holt said.
According to Benjamin, the fashion industry is a billion dollar business, and it always will be, because everyone has to wear clothes.
The fashion industry might be a hard one to get into, but hard work, talent, and determination pay off in the end.
“You must not only love what you do but you be good at it and also know what exactly people want,” Kenny said.
Kenny thinks high-end fashion cities like Los Angeles, New York, Miami, etc. provide better career opportunities for fashion designers.
According to Holt, the Midwest can provide career opportunities for fashion merchandisers and buyers through retail. A fashion merchandiser could look for a retail job, where he/she can dress mannequins and make them look appealing to customer.
“When in doubt retail is the way to go for fashion graduates,” Holt said.
The fashion industry is full of different kinds of jobs, and fashion majors have different reasons to get into the business.
“My dream job is a buyer. I just want to be a fashion icon and a fashion statement. I want my story to inspire and motivate others,” Kenny said.
“My inspiration is creating clothes that women want to wear and have in their closets because they feel confident and beautiful while wearing my clothing. With this I have the idea to keep the clothing I create a mixture of daring or sassy, classy and elegant or sophisticated,” Holt said.
According to Huffington Post, the top eight fashion schools in the United States are: Parsons the New School for Design, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Savannah College of Art and Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York University, Academy of Art University, Pratt Insitute and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Lawrence Fashionista 