68 Careers in Clothing Textiles Chapter 68 Page

68 Careers in Clothing & Textiles Chapter 68 Page 658 1

Careers Cover a broad range of occupations From clothing design, to fabric manufacturing, to the sale of finished items 2

Qualities Needed Strong interest in clothing Desire to work hard Competition for these jobs are fierce Jobs are demanding and highpressured Job security not as strong 3

Interests and Skills Do you have a sense of color and design? This is essential, need to create attractive and useable products Are you well organized? Involves following many steps and combining pieces 4

Do you pay attention to detail? Essential for jobs Close attention to detail results in quality work So you have return customers Do you want to learn about the technical side of fibers and fabrics? Needed in every area of garment making 5

Design & Marketing Entry-level Jobs Sales people First step in retail clothing career Part-time employment Stock clerk Puts price tags on, keeps track of stock Needs to be organized 6

Real-Life Application Jeff is a salesperson in a clothing store. When he sees a customer, he busies himself nearby. He glances at the customer occasionally and waits to be asked for help. Erica is Jeff’s coworker. She is quick to help customers but often remarks unkindly to Jeff that shoppers have such poor taste and choose the most unattractive styles. 7

Who might be more helpful to you? Who might care about the consumer more? 8

Jobs that Require Training Buyers – those who connect designers and garment makers with the stores where clothing is sold Must spot fashion trends Select styles and colors Large department store or a chain 9

Buyers cont… Might be the store owner and buyer Work in fashion centers (buildings that house the sales offices of garment manufacturers) 10

Jobs that Require Higher Education Fashion coordinators – who develop advertising themes and plan fashion events that will bring people into the store Work closely with buyers Keep buyers informed about newest colors and styles 11

Fashion coordinators usually college graduates who majored in FACS In addition attend special fashion institute Designers are key people in fashion industry Usually a college degree or at least some classes Receive training by working with experienced designers 12

Fabric designers create textures by using computers to design patterns with different yarns 13

Construction and Care Entry level Sewing machine operators Largest number of workers Do the stitching Trained on the job to sew Some have technical or vocational training Wages begin at minimum wage Can work up to supervisor 14

Jobs that Require Training Pattern maker – is a skilled worker who makes a pattern from the designer’s original sample Accuracy is crucial it is the template for others to come Dry cleaners Know how to choose right chemicals so as not to damage garment (6 to 12 mths to learn) 15

Jobs that Require Higher Education Textile chemists develop new fibers and finishes Such as nylon and polyester Textile engineers Develop new techniques for making yarns and fabrics Improve quality and keep costs down Skilled in math and chemistry 16

Dyers- high skilled workers Know chemistry Understand how dyes and fibers react together 17

Related Careers Fashion magazines employ fashion editors Fashion advertising Models Managers for models Photographers Video artists Stylists, etc 18

Jobs in marketing and advertising include market researcher; manufacture's representative; merchandise manager advertising manager; advertising account executive, photographer; illustrator; art director and public relations manager 19

FYI The Los Angeles Trade-Technical College offers an associate of arts degree and a certificate in fashion design to talented but financially struggling students. Students take four-hour classes in technical skills, which then enable them to carry out the designs they create. 20

Preparing for a Career High school diploma required Technical or vocation training may be required College or fashion-merchandising degree 21

FYI In 1995, official discovered 72 workers from Thailand were being held as virtual slaves in an El Monte, California, garment shop. They had been working up to 22 hours a day for as little as $. 59 an hour and were not permitted to leave the building. The company owners were also Thais. 22

The finished garments carried wellknown labels and were sold in top-ofthe-line stores. 23

Teachers are vital to the clothing industry. They teach courses such as FACS, fashion merchandising, and textile design in hgi schools, community colleges, adult education centers, vocation and trade schools, colleges and universities May act as consultants and extension service specialists 24