Careers for Freshers

Textile Designer

You love the fall of a chiffon sari, or the softness of cotton. Ever wonder how the fabric came to be? Its all about the effortless look that marries comfort with the latest trends, without compromising personal style and comfort.
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• Job Profile
Textile designers organise and design articles, products and materials in a such a way that they not only serve the purpose for which they were intended but are visually pleasing as well.

Designers may compare similar or competitive products. They take into account, and often set, style and fashion trends. Designers usually develop products, by hand or with the aid of a computer, sketches of several design concepts, which they present for a final selection to a client, an art or design director, or a product development team.

Designers in some specialities are increasingly using computer aided design (CAD) tools to create and better visualise the final product. Computers greatly reduce the cost and time necessary to create a model or prototype, which gives a real idea of what the product will look like. Designers must have an artistic ability coupled with the knowledge of computers and their applications.

Textile designers design fabrics for garments, upholstery, rugs and other products, using their knowledge of textile materials and fashion trends. In the future, intelligent pattern engineering, (IPE) systems will enable even greater automation in generating patterns

• Eligibility
Creativity, originality and confidence are imperative in this profession. There have been designers who have achieved success despite not having a formal training. Designing is not everything, you have to know the fabrics and all about them. You need to keep abreast about the current trends and have the potential to visualise the future trends.

You need to have sound drawing, design and weaving skills. Skills in textile design creation on computers are a must because everyone today has become computer savvy.
A must of the market world is to know market research skills to work out the demands of the fabric and textile market.

• Institutes
The Textile Design programme offers professional design education, promoting a balance between the cultural aspects of a liberal's arts education and the specialised content integral to the textile design profession. The curriculum reflects the continually expanding requirements for the professional textile designer including advancements in technology. A generous number of studio electives allow students to expand and integrate design skills in related areas.

• Certificate in Production Technology:
National Institute of Fashion Technology
Hauz Khas
New Delhi (N.I.F.T.)
Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent with 50%; SC/ST 45%, Test, Experience in garment related ITI's and polytechnics is desirable

• Professional Diploma course in Textile and Fashion Designing:
Lady Irwin College
Sikander Road
New Delhi
Eligibility: Work experience or Diploma Holder
Duration: 1 Year

• Diploma in Textile:
Designing Sophia Polytechnic
Breach Candy
Mumbai
Eligibility: S.S.C. or equivalent
Duration: 3 Years

• One-year course in textile and clothing:
Lady Irwin College
Delhi Graduates and Diploma holders
Sikander Road
New Delhi
Duration: 1 Year

• Prospects :
Graduates of the Textile Design program can look forward to careers in the fabric industry (both home furnishings and fashion), retailing and a variety of other careers in the design field that require a thorough knowledge of colour, pattern, two-dimensional design, and computer skills.

Textile Designer : Textile designers create the patterns that are woven or printed onto fabrics. They must have a good knowledge of fabrics and dyes as well as design skills. Until recently, the designs and variations were created by hand but the textile industry is now utilising advanced technology. Computers are programmed to create variations of designs: for example, enlarging them or changing direction and colour.

Textile Artist : They create original designs or adapts existing ones for textiles. They specialise in prints or woven designs for apparel or home furnishings.

Repeat Artist : Renders existing design in repeat pattern, as it will be printed on fabric.

Knit Designer : Design and graph instructions for knit fabric designs so that knitting machines can produce them.

Stylist : Works to develop seasonal lines. Duties include yarn, colour, and print research. May do fabric analysis. Maintains yarn and fabric swatch books, helps prepare presentation boards, keeps records, acts as liaison with mills, may work with clients and sales force, does follow-up work.

Embroidery, Appliqué or Lace Designer : Does detailed technical drawings on graph paper of designs for embroidery and or lace.

Production Assistant : Acts as liaison with production facilities. Keep records pertaining to production, inventory, sales, piece goods, and shipments. Tracks work flow and deliveries, expedites orders, informs clients of progress. Job involves heavy phone contact, detail and figure work.

Colourist : Creates various colour combinations for existing designs under direction of stylist.

Artist / Craftsman : Design and produce limited lines of woven, printed, or painted fabric for scarves, jackets, etc. for galleries and high end retailers.

Textile Design for Theatre and Cinema : Works closely with fashion designers to create special fabrics and fabric "looks" for costumes in film and theatrical settings.

• Money
Jobs in this industry are paying well because of the up coming fashion industry. A starter can earn Rs. 3,500 to Rs.8, 000 per month.. As a freelance textile designer you could earn Rs. 25,00 or more.

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