Jobs, occupations and careers - Textile Designer
Textile designers are responsible for the creation and development of designs or patterns which are either woven, knitted or printed on to or into cloth. They need artistic skills and sound knowledge of fabric characteristics and factory reproduction techniques to design exquisite and marketable textiles.
Textile designers work within a field where media, materials, production methods, finance and public taste all have a bearing on their work. Designers need to understand and exploit these limitations so that the fabric is readily identified with a specific need and its acceptance is facilitated.
Creative artists use their skills and experience to produce designs and colourations, not only by traditional sketches and painting techniques, but also using high-tech computers. This offers aspiring designers a totally new dimension in the exciting world of textile design.
Textile design moves with current fashion and reflects many moods and cultures. International travel, to capture design ideas and trends, becomes part of skilled designers’ work when part of product management teams. With backgrounds of expertise and specialised knowledge, designers can fulfil important roles on the marketing or colouring side too.
Textile designers are mostly employed by the fashion fabrics and home textiles industries. They are sometimes expected to travel from one country to another to study fashion trends.
artistic, creative and practical
excellent feel for colour
aware of fashion trends
understanding of all marketing avenues
friendly and tactful when dealing with clients
able to subdue personal taste to meet those of particular markets
textile companies, as a merchandiser or stylist
self-employed, as a consultant or doing freelance work
maintain an interest in current fashion trends and try creating your own
speak to people in the fashion industry, including models
read extensively about interior design and fabrics, i.e. clothing, upholstery and carpets
arrange to speak to textile designers about this type of career and ask permission to observe them at work