Fashion Designer

Highly relevant tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Determining the objectives and constraints of the design brief by consulting with clients and stakeholders.
• Undertaking product research and analyzing functional, commercial, cultural and aesthetic requirements.
• Formulating design concepts for clothing.
• Preparing sketches, diagrams, illustrations, plans, samples and models to communicate design concepts.
• Negotiating design solutions with clients, management, and sales and manufacturing staff.
• Selecting, specifying and recommending functional and aesthetic materials, production methods and finishes for manufacture.
• Preparing and commissioning prototypes and samples.
• Detailing and documenting the selected design for production.
• Supervising the preparation of patterns, programs and tooling, and the manufacturing process.

Fashion Designers plan, design, develop and create garments, footwear and lifestyle accessories to suit current trends and design briefs. They may develop high end one-of-a-kind garments, or collections suitable for large production runs.

Fashion designers follow a process of identifying trends and researching for shapes, fabrics and colours. They then focus on creating designs that will appeal to their specific target customers’ needs. Design considerations include commercial constraints and production capabilities.

Fashion designers may be self-employed as entrepreneurs and freelance designers or work for fashion retailers, small businesses, designer boutiques or high-fashion department stores. Some work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs for the mass market. A few may also work as costume designers for media and stage productions.

Roles that are primarily focused on interpreting designs, sketches, and samples to make garments will not be considered under this occupation. Apparel Cutters, Clothing Patternmakers, Dressmakers or Tailors are classified separately in ANZSCO.

When applying for a Skills Assessment, please ensure you submit sufficient evidence supporting your proof of identity, qualification and employment claims. A full list of the documents required can be found on the VETASSESS website under Eligibility Criteria.

Please note, a portfolio of completed work must be submitted for assessment if nominating this occupation

If you are nominating this occupation and you are self-employed, you are required to provide the following:

• Evidence of self-employment such as sole trading or business registration details and/or official statements issued by your (registered) Accountant and/or legal team. The statement from your Accountant or Solicitor must include the Accountant’s or Solicitor’s letterhead, your full name, how long you have been continuously self-employed, including official dates in each role, the nature of the business conducted, the signature and contact details of the Accountant or Solicitor.
• A statutory declaration listing your main duties during self-employment.
• Payment evidence showing regular income from self-employment, such as client invoices together with corresponding bank statements and/or official taxation records.
• Supplementary evidence, such as contracts with clients or suppliers, client testimonials, evidence of projects completed, etc.