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My daughters career
My daughter is in middle school and she really wants to become a fashion designer. She loves matching stuff together and things like that. I try things to help her develop what she likes to do. So far all I've tried putting her in a sewing class for the summer but it was so expensive I could only pay for 3 classes. I would love for her to countinue following her dream. But i know nothing about this catagorie. I want something cheap and not so expensive. Or maybe a little program or game on the computer to help her learn how to sketch or how to do whatever other things she needs to learn about fashion desighing. So if you could please help me with this problem that would be fantastic. Thanks!
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If your daughter has a sewing machine already, I would strongly suggest the website Craftsy. It's how I taught myself how to sew.
You pay per class, and it's made up of online videos and forums. You watch the videos, ask the instructors any questions you may have and follow along at your own pace. Some of the classes cost as much as $80, but if you catch them near a holiday you can get them for as much as 50% off. They cover everything from the very basics to couture sewing, all different types of fabrics. You just choose the ones you want to take.
As for the fashion design aspect, I'm not sure on that. I'm no fashion design student, but I find that my sewing inspiration comes from browsing stores online and saying "I could make that, and for half the price!"
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Tough field to get into. First thing you need to learn is to sketch correctly proportioned figures. Try to get her a 'lay-figure'. They're little wooden jointed, poseable 'people', cheap and easily available. You'll recognise one when you see it even from that description. She's not aiming at anatomically perfect figures like in a medical textbook, but you've got to be able to quickly sketch a human figure in a variety of positions. Meantime, search on the net using 'fashion+resources' or similar, download some sketches of figures in classic fashion poses, print them and she can start sketching creations over them. They're often called 'croqui'. Expensive computer design packages are for commercial illustrators really, fashion designs are about ideas, and coloured pencils put them down as well, if not much better. It's a much more natrual & intuitive way to work. Of course, look at all stuff you can from designers, bet she's got her favourites! The resource sites will have plenty of other free download stuff. Backgrounds, clothing items, fabric 'swatches', loads of stuff. A copy of Vogue doesn't cost much, and should occupy her for HOURS! When it comes to textile design, cutting and sewing...it's going to be virtually impossible to teach herself to a high enough level really. To learn that you've really got to go through the all the accepted channels. Of course this means making coursework choices in relevent subjects that will lead to entry at a university, and starting about now. In other words, commitment and hard-work! Actually she'd love the further/higher education fashion design environment, and it puts her in a place where the right people are looking to encourage and recruit. Now you might be thinking you'd prefer her to put all that effort into something a bit more predictable job-wise. But a degree is not 'job specific', more a proof of all-round intellectual ability. And there are VERY MANY fashion-related positions out there. A 'lighting designer' who works out the catwalk lighting rigs is still working in 'fashion' for instance. I hope she follows her dreams...all the way. Talent will show, same as in every line of work, but she's got to put herself in the right places and communicate it, or how will anyone ever know she's got it?
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Becoming a fashion designer is extremely difficult. I'm not saying that she should forget her dream, but I'm just suggesting that it's best not to get your hopes up too high. There is very little space at the top rung, i.e. the odds are against you if your only aim is to be the next Stella McCartney or Vivienne Westwood.
There are plenty of resources online, if you simply google "how to become a fashion designer".
There are some other things you can do. Do you or any friends/family know to sew? You can buy her some fabric, and she can start off by making t-shirts, etc.
If she has old t-shirts or pants, she can cut them on the seam. Then use that as a template. to cut and create another item.
Then, she can draw out simple items that she doesn't have, and then try to make the item.
There are loads of videos online that teach you how to do fashion sketches. It's all down to practice though!
Good luck!
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