Following on from an episode of Vogue UK’s mini-­series hosted by the British ‘It ­girl’ Alexa Chung the “Future of Fashion”, here at the Gryphon, we wanted to assist shining some light on the multitude of opportunities there are in the industry. A field regularly associated with designers and editors, often misinterpreted and decorated as both the glamorous or the torturous. But what is the reality in terms of careers in the fashion industry? What are the opportunities available for those of us who can’t thread a needle?  We explore the ever-growing world of an entrepreneurial fashion industry.

An industry worth £26 billion within the UK (if indirect support for supply chain industries and induced employees wages are added it contributes to £42bn), economically the fashion world is not shy of possibilities for young British hopefuls. Being a designer is evidently the most visible role you can take in the industry closely met next to editor-­in-­chief of a magazine. Nonetheless, no industry can survive without the business minds, other contributing creatives and roles you don’t necessarily see which actually contribute considerably to their brands.

Fashion marketing?

Ultimately, designers need be able to infiltrate the market and you could be the one to do it. Ideal for the one with a a passion for business and an interest in fashion. One of the most important jobs other than designing the clothes is promoting and putting the brand out there. Taking charge of target market, media and advertising is all part of the field. The average salary for an Associate Marketing Manager starts at around £35,000, with top end Chief Marketing Officers estimated to earn £135,000 according to Fashionista.com. Choosing to get involved in the fashion marketing field opens undergraduates up to new ways of promotion and technologies. Not to forget, the developing markets around the world and countries such as, China. The fashion industry’s burgeoning demand within creative, business and technological sectors has made fashion marketing one the most desirable job roles.

“…it’s always a relevant qualification. The industry moves quickly and because of this, fashion marketing is stimulating and exciting to study”­ Gill Stark, head of the School of Fashion and Design at Regent’s University (The Independent).

Stylist

A role on the rise in terms of visualness… Firstly, think outside your part ­time job and the visual merchandiser you may know instore. The shop window is one of many places for visual presentation. Not only that, the stylist is responsible for clothing the editorial, celebrity or customer, campaign or video. Say thanks to the stylist for all the inspo you’ve gotten from your favourite music videos. The average stylist is set to earn £17,000, with the possibility of advancing to a top end stylist earning £80,680 per year. A career in styling appears to be on the rise in terms of its celebrity status thanks to the likes of Rachel Zoe. Another career dependent on adaptability and versatility.

“They are storytellers in three dimensions, creating environments that inspire, inform, and persuade.”­ Simon Doonan (Fashionista.com)

Fashion Journalism

Fashion demands attention, it demands to be spoken about and consequently to be written about. As fashion magazines such as Vogue, GQ, Glamour and ID remain relevant by means of growth in technology and the rise of social media, interviewing celebrities and corresponding with popular culture their presence and importance is undeniable. Magazines are regularly hiring bloggers to weigh in on what is happening in the industry. The average salary for a fashion writer in the UK in around £24,543 per year, with the possibilities of advancing to £38,000. A role fundamentally reliant on your ability to write, but also networking, research and interviewing skills. When considering a career in journalism, remember the best writers are those who are personable, opinionated, and extremely multifaceted.

“The importance of a fresh writing style goes hand-in-hand with needing a good eye for what makes an interesting and innovative story and ability to sell this too the appropriate editor.”  Grace Saunders- PressGazette

Fashion Buyer

The ability to anticipate consumer behaviour, an eye for what is selling and being shrewd enough to abdicate your own personal style are all necessary traits of a successful buyer. The role of a buyer fundamentally requires you to evaluate what should be on the store shelves while completing the footwork, research and creating the deals to buy quantities of a product in order for the company to sell to its consumers. The average salary of a buyer is estimated between £27,000- £45,000 while a head buyer can earn up to £90,000. A role in which your day-to-day job differs incredibly, the fashion buyer must utilise their creative eye, business mind and possess a high level of confidence when deciding whether it should be the belt or the shoes!

“I’ve bought in lots of things across the years that wouldn’t suit my taste. You have got to understand the customer you are selling to and be objective.”- Sally Ambrose, Head of Buying at Marks and Spencer (The Guardian)

Fashion Forecasting

Fashion Forecasting is a resource whereby colour, fabrics, trends and “popular” styles are predicted in order to assist designers in predicting what future fashion is likely to look like. A distinctly different role from that of a fashion buyer, the forecaster has the ability to predict what demand will look like in the following six months while assisting the designer on what would provide the best profit commercially. The average salary of a trend forecasting is estimated at £30,000-£40,000 per year. In a current climate where fast fashion prevails commercially, fashion forecasters are eminently in demand.

“As a designer, you’ve always got to push yourself forward; you’ve always got to keep up with the trends or make your own trends. That’s what I do” – Alexander McQueen

Fashion Production

Fashion production managers are those who are responsible for making sure textiles and clothing are made on a manufacturing level. Even though fast fashion is commercially successful, manufacturing is witnessing a burgeoning move towards “zero waste” production by which as little waste as possible is attempted. Under huge scrutiny for its ethical value, the nature of fast fashion results in serious negative effects on the environment and third world countries. However the natural pressure for keeping up with trends places brands in a small corner. The importance of fashion production management is paramount in assisting a green movement away from the “profitable magic” that is fast fashion. The average salary of this role starts at £33,058 per year.

“They say you are what you eat. But you are as much as you as what you wear”  – Model Amber Valletta on fast fashion in a short film ‘Driving Fashion Forward’

PR

Engaging and maintaining a relation with customers is necessary for any business…
A role in public relations is another viable career opportunity within fashion. The role of public relationship representative requires you to essentially ‘communicate the message’. They  deal with forging press relations, assisting in building the brand… while more unattractively dealing with stuff like complaints also. Nonetheless, promoting the fashion business is the number one goal for a PR representative.  The average salary here starts at around £18,000-£20,000 while a PR office could be earning £22,000-£28,000.

“We work in a glamorous world working with beautiful people and clothes, but at the end of the day we are there to represent the client” The Guardian 

Makeup Artist

A career as a professional makeup artist is one that can sound a trivial in conversation, however a role which is highly creative and demanding requires skills. It a career which definitely differs day-to-day, depending on the job. A successful makeup artist will understand skin-type, colour, condition and sensitivity in terms of applying makeup. They will be able to create looks unique, transformative yet expressive. However, knowing tools of the trade is what sets makeup artists apart. Entrepreneurial skills, travelling and networking are needed for a successful makeup artist career. Here, the start salary is estimated at £19,000 per year.

“Anything but perfection is failure when it comes to what we do. You have to have an eye. You have to see things that your client doesn’t see. You have to see things that the editors or the photographers don’t see. You’re there to have that laser-sharp vision that makes the whole picture work.” Sir John – NYMag

Just a few options in our short mission to highlight the that there are other contributing fields within the fashion industry. Without enough room to inspire you with buying, editing, photo editing, graphic designing, bookings, publicising and social media… It’s clear if you have an interest in fashion, there very well could be a role fit for your interests and skills.

Lynton Williams