The Truth About Fashion Education

Fashion design is one of the easiest specialties and all designers should use their creative ideas to create marketable products and pay attention to the quality of the workmanship.As a concept fashion design is an art form but in reality it is a craft. It can be compared to jewellery making.

The designer comes up with a concept, an idea, which usually follows a fashion brief. Either a full range is designed, where all garments must be united or a once off dress is created. Even when the students are designing a garment for themselves, there already is a certain context. Example: when designing trousers, is it for summer or for winter? Is it day or evening pants? Is it simple and contemporary or posh and fancy or is it classic?

The purpose of CRE Fashion design school programs is for students to develop their own signature style, which is a reflection of one's individuality and is also an extension of the learner's interests and talents.

Designers find inspiration in fields seemingly out of the fashion field, such as music, cinema, art, photography or even one's daily life. Reading fashion magazines and knowing the current trends is good, but should not be overdone as our minds will inevitably copy design ideas.

Each design will follow a specific brief from a client or for a particular fashion brand, usually considering the seasonal trends. The designer comes up with a certain concept, a visual of the cut and the shape. Then decisions are required on the main colours, fabrics and features. Example: style lines, pockets etc. Further on the supporting colours, fabrics and features must be highlighted, Example: decoration, gathering, slits etc. The visual in a person's mind is moving with endless variations and the best ones must be identified, however it is not possible that the image is held still and turned front, back and imagined completed, this is why we draw. The student starts with a Fashion illustration, which is the creative interpretation of the design idea.

Then the design circle follows with a Technical drawing, where the particular fabrics are chosen. Then Pattern making and Garment construction (Cutting & Sewing) follow.