Difference between Fashion Design and Textile Design

Fashion industry in India was at a market size of 172.3 Billion USD in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 14.6% from 2023 to 2028. Increasing demand has led people to explore Fashion and Textile Design as a lucrative career option. Today people are looking for all sorts of fashion/textile products which are of premium quality.

Fashion and textile designs are words/fields that are at times interchangeably used and involve the production of raw, semi-worked, semi-manufactured, manufactured, semi-made-up or made-up of products that are exclusively composed of fibers. Both fields require some set of creative and technical skills. Some technical skills like design principles, colour theory, fabric properties, and garment construction. Someone who is working in this field should have a thorough knowledge of the upcoming trends, buying preferences, buying patterns, decisions and business behind fashion.

What does a Fashion Designer do?

Fashion design is mostly concentrated on developing garments and accessories that are creative, fashionable and practical. This includes everything from haute couture to pret-a-porter to the mass market. The fashion designer who designs the garment should have good knowledge about current trends, a variety of fabrics, materials and the science behind the garment design.

What Does a Textile Designer Do?

The textile design focuses on the creation of fabric designs and patterns for woven, knitted and/or printed materials for garments or home furnishings. A textile designer should know about various fibers, textiles, textile constructions, textures, dyes, yarns, colors, shapes and forms. They should have skills like technical know-how, the business of fashion, data handling, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving. A few common skills a fashion and textile designer should have is to forecast trends. Another one is they both should have collaborative skills because they both cannot work in isolation. By collaborating they can reach consumers easily which turns out to be economical.

Career Options in Fashion and Textile

Fashion and textile designers have a wide range of career options available to them. They can work in the fashion industry, designing clothes for well-known designers, domestic/ international brands, an e-commerce marketplace, buying-house, liaison office for an international brand, direct-to-consumer brands or they can also own their own brand.

They can also work in the textile industry, designing fabrics and textiles for use in clothing, home furnishings, and other products.

Nowadays due to the rise of e-commerce marketplaces, career options have opened up for fashion/ textile designers. These designers can easily sell their products online. They can work as designers for their private labels. Social media and online platforms have also made it easier for designers to connect with customers and build a loyal following. E-commerce has helped the fashion industry in a big way. It has made brands reach audiences easier, for instance, earlier it was a challenge for the brands to reach smaller towns/cities, but with e-commerce, the accessibility has improved multi-folds. Another reason is lower operational costs with e-commerce. In the broader picture, it has reduced the cost of setting up an entire store. A brand just needs a dropshipping model to minimize the cost. And e-commerce has made it convenient to buy things online. One can shop from anywhere and at any time.

Sustainability in Fashion and Textile Design

Fashion and textile design are focusing on sustainability majorly because the customer has become more sensitive towards the environment and its repercussions. Customers today are looking for clothing items which are eco-friendly or recycled material. Brands are responding to this by using sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, pineapple fiber, silk, cashmere, jute etc. Many designers work in teams, whether it be with other designers, pattern makers, sample makers, or textile mills. Communication and collaboration skills are essential to effectively work together and bring a design to fruition. Also, a designer must do these things to become more sustainable,

• Re-use- In a world where fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion are prevalent. Consumers must use the clothing piece well before actually disposing of it.
• Rentals- Brands must come with a system of rentals, so a garment is in use again & again. And to the customer as well it must turn out to be inexpensive.
• Transparency- Brands should abide by green marketing & its practices. They shouldn't only show off at the surface but rather practice it at the ground level.

Formal education in fashion or textile design can be beneficial, but it is also possible to succeed through experience and on-the-job training to adapt to new technologies and trends. Fashion and textile design programmes are offered at universities and colleges around the world. They also include classes in fashion and trend forecasting to help students understand the industry and prepare them for a career in design. One can also learn fashion & textile design through internships and apprenticeships.

Fashion and Textile Design Tools

Fashion and textile designers are skilled to be effectively using a wide range of tools for instance,

• Draping Tool- It's a technique to position and pin fabric around a dress to make a garment structure. One needs muslin fabric, dressmaker pins, a measuring tape, a styling curve, a plastic ruler, fabric scissors, a tracing wheel, an L square, a pencil and a sharpener.
• Dress forms- It's a tool used for fitting draping clothes which are designed to be sewn. These are adjustable dress forms which are available in varied sizes.
• Fabric Pressing tools- it is used for the draping and cutting process. It helps in cutting perfect dressmaking. Some tools are Iron, Steam Iron, Fabric Steamer, Steam press etc.
• Fabric Sketching tools- these equipment are used for art or sketching a new design. These are a drawing pencil, colour pencil, ruler, marker, eraser, paper (carbon, graph) and tracing paper roll.
• Computer-Aided Design tool (CAD)- It's a tool to develop ideas and designs. It is the use of computer-based software to aid in design processes. The purpose of CAD is to improve the efficiency of the task and to streamline the designer's workflow which directly improves the quality and level of detail in the design.
• Sewing tools- This is a great tool for sewing the full outfit, it is also used for times when the outfit gets torn. These are a sewing machine, needles, scissors, thread cutter, glue stick etc.
• Pattern Making tools - these are used to check the measurement and dimensions. These tools are paper (brown, white), french curve, hip curve, styling curve and pencil (eraser, sharpener).
• Other tools- these are tracing paper, black liquid marker, push pin, chalk, measuring tape, threads, software, tabletop iron board, drafting table, thread spool stands, seam ripper, tracing wheel tool and yardstick.

Apart from the tools, fashion & textile designers must know how to work under pressure majorly because they work in a fast-paced environment. If designers are not active they might just lose capturing the market while a certain fashion product is in trend. They must also understand customer preferences to understand the demand and supply of any product. They must have a deep understanding of marketing and branding principles, as well as the ability to create effective marketing campaigns and build a strong online presence.

Wider Scope for Fashion and Textile Design

Finally, fashion and textile design are not just limited to clothing and textiles, it also encompasses other areas such as home decor, accessories and even industrial design. Designers who specialize in these areas can work on creating functional and stylish products for the home, designing furniture, lighting, and other household items.

Overall, fashion and textile design is a diverse and ever-evolving field that requires a wide range of skills, creativity, and an understanding of the industry. It is not just about creating beautiful clothing and textiles but also about being socially and environmentally responsible, preserving cultural heritage, and creating functional designs. With the right skills, passion and dedication, the possibilities in fashion and textile design are endless.

Fashion and textile design is not just a creative field, it is also a business. Designers must be able to understand the business side of the fashion industry, such as budgeting, pricing, marketing, branding and production costs. They should develop and maintain relationships with clients, suppliers, and other industry professionals.

Many fashion and textile designers choose to become entrepreneurs and this requires a deep understanding of business management. This can include developing a business plan, raising funds, and managing a team of employees. Designers who own their businesses must also be able to market their products and build a brand.

Competition in the Fashion and Textile Industry

Fashion and textile design is also a highly competitive field, and designers must be able to stand out and make a name for themselves. This requires a deep understanding of the industry, as well as the ability to network and build relationships with other professionals.

One way to stand out in the fashion and textile design industry is by developing a niche. This can be a certain type of clothing, such as plus-size or athletic wear, or a specific type of textile, such as sustainable fabrics or digital prints. Specializing in a particular area can help designers to build a loyal customer base and establish themselves as experts in their field.

In conclusion, fashion and textile design are exciting and dynamic fields that require a wide range of creative and technical skills. Designers must be able to think outside the box, work under pressure, and stay current with the latest trends and consumer preferences. They must also be able to work well with others in collaboration, use a wide range of tools and technologies, and understand the business side of the industry. With hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt, anyone can become a successful fashion and textile designer.

About The Author

Shraddha Kochar was born, raised and completed her education in Delhi. She has been in the fashion industry for the last 7+ years, with varied experience of working in startups, national brands, e-commerce, exports and education sector. She likes ... to travel and explore places for food. She mystically landed in the education sector and has been teaching since then. She enjoys reading about fashion and lifestyle brands, fiction, fitness, personal finance and philosophy. She is trying to become a conscious and aware human, keeping in mind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

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