Project Runway: A Lesson in Careers in Fashion

by Sarah Clark
sarah.clark@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

The hit reality TV show “Project Runway” has drawn attention to careers in fashion design. But the show doesn’t reveal all there is to know about fashion careers. Here’s what you can and can’t learn about life in the fashion fast lane from Heidi Klum and her counterparts.

Watching Project Runway is a great way to learn a little more about the fashion industry and a variety of careers in fashion. You can learn what fashion editors do, how clothing is critiqued, and how clothes transform from rough sketches to wearable pieces.

You may also get a better idea of what it’s like to feature a collection in a runway show-including what happens minutes before a model walks down the runway, from completing last minute fittings to coordinating hair and makeup that complements a model’s overall look.

What you may not see much of is how designers actually ply their trade. How did the more skilled illustrators get so good? And how do designers come up with pieces that fit together in an interesting way, one that hints at tradition while pushing toward something more modern and daring?

Fashion School: Filling the Gaps

Of course a TV show can’t provide us with a thorough education in fashion design or anything else. To learn about the ins and outs of the fashion industry and clothing design from patternmaking to clothing construction, you need to attend fashion school. Fashion school can equip you with the fundamental knowledge needed to begin practicing your passion-you may even begin developing some level of expertise during your academic career, building a portfolio that could help you land your first post-fashion school job.

Careers in fashion are hard won-and that’s one topic that Project Runway depicts realistically. The contestants are typically very talented and the competition is extremely tough. So don’t delay your fashion education; you’ll need all the preparation and advantages available to pursue your career in fashion.

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who specializes in postsecondary education and career development.