Fashion Designers

Designers are key people in the garment industry, yet relatively few of them are needed to make employment possible for thousands of people in other apparel occupations. There are approximately 21,900 fashion designers in the United States, which represents a tiny percentage of the garment industry. Some designers work only for the high-priced custom trade, some for the mass market, and some on exclusive designs that will be made for only one person. Many designers are employed by manufacturers of paper patterns.

Employment for fashion designers is expected to grow about 5 percent (as fast as the average for all careers) from 2023 to 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). "The increased demand for a constant flow of new fashion designs has been accelerated by social media influencers and by retailers advertising and selling directly to consumers online," according to the DOL.

The outlook varies by employer. For example, employment for fashion designers who work for apparel manufacturers is expected to decline by 20.4 percent though 2033, while employment of fashion designers in the sporting goods retail apparel industry is projected to increase 11.7 percent. There will continue to be job opportunities at specialized design services firms, where employment is expected to grow by 10.5 percent.

Good designers will always be needed, although not in great numbers. However, increasing populations and growing personal incomes are expected to create continuing demand for fashion designers—especially those who design mass market clothing that is sold in department stores and retail chain stores, such as apparel wholesale firms. Designers will also be needed to create garments using new fabrics, such as moisture-wicking fabrics. "Growing consumer preference for sustainable options in the fashion industry also has created a desire for designs that use eco- and vegan-friendly materials," according to the DOL.

Some fashion designers enjoy high pay and prestige. Those at the top of their profession rarely leave their positions. Therefore, opportunities for newcomers are limited. There always will be more people hoping to break into the field than there are available jobs. Experience working with computer-aided design software is increasingly important to employers and can help to distinguish a qualified job candidate from the rest of his or her competition. Employment prospects may be better in specialized areas, such as children's clothing. Fashion designers who are willing to relocate to fashion meccas such as New York and California will have improved job prospects.