Fashion Designer
Creates original clothing, accessories and footwear — sketches, fabrics, patterns and production.
Overview
Fashion Designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear. They sketch designs, select fabrics and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they design.
Where they work
- Boutiques
- Fashion/Garment Houses
- Retail Brands
- Export Houses
- Fashion Brands
Work environment
The work timings are typically 5 to 6 days a week for 8 to 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. Entrepreneurship: you can set up your own fashion designing practise.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to draw
- You have a creative bent of mind
- You like to have clear instructions to follow
- You are comfortable in communicating with others
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in any stream.
- 2Complete Bachelor's degree in Design (B.Des.) in Fashion Design followed by Master's degree (M.Des.) in the same discipline
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree in Design (B.Des.) in any discipline followed by Master's degree (M.Des.) in Fashion Designing.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Design. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gujarat
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Rajasthan
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, West Bengal
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Artemisia College of Art and Design, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar, Punjab
- Alakh Prakash Goyal Shimla University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
- Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Kochi, Kerala
- Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana
- Indian Institute of Art and Design, New Delhi
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
- Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Trainee Fashion Designer
- 2Fashion Designer
- 3Senior Fashion Designer
- 4Design Lead
Related careers to explore
Textile Designer
Creates unique patterns in textiles and woven cloth, researching market and fashion trends.
Visual Merchandiser
Organises and displays products in a retail space to attract and motivate customers to buy.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Any Stream, Arts.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to creating.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Sabyasachi Mukherjee — An Indian fashion designer, jewelry designer, retailer from Kolkata, India. He is one of the Associate Designer Members of Fashion Design Council of India, and the youngest board member of the National Museum of Indian Cinema. He graduated from the National Institute of Fashion Technology India, and started the eponymous label 'Sabyasachi' a couple of months later. He has participated in various fashion weeks throughout the world, and has also designed costumes for many Bollywood films.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 109 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.glassdoor.co.in/Salaries/fashion-designer-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.