Fashion Design – Fashion Illustration – Top Ways to Design Apparel

Fashion Design & Fashion Illustration – All About The Art of Apparel Design + Q&A

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The art of fashion design and fashion illustration are required skills to be a fashion designer. According to Wikipedia, “Fashion design is the art of application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories.” Wikipedia also states that, “Fashion Illustration is the art of communicating fashion ideas in a visual form that originates with illustration, drawing and painting…It is used mainly by fashion designers to brainstorm their ideas into paper or computer, using digital software.” The true goal of fashion illustration is to be able to accurately communicate your design ideas to others (manufacturers, your team, clients, retailers, etc.) according to Michael Harper, Co-Creator of Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software.

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Within these two broad terms there are smaller categories with each having their own objectives. For instance, fashion sketching is a part of fashion design and fashion illustration. However the goal of fashion sketching is usually garment, accessories, footwear or jewelry based. Fashion Sketch rendering brings all of the elements together that go into a specific design. These elements could be things like prints, buttons, artwork, zippers, fabrics etc. The Fashion Sketch will embody each of these design elements. Creating the artwork, print or textile design elements fall under the global category of fashion illustration and fashion design.

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Fashion Design - Fashion Illustration - Design Graphic T-shirts and Leggings - With Digital Fashion Pro Clothing Design Software -1kw

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Drawing Ability – Is It a Must?

Do you have to know how to draw to get into fashion design? Yes & No

Programs like Digital Fashion Pro do not require drawing skills.

Is Hand Drawing Preferred In The Industry? No

Hand drawing is great for showcasing artistic ability but using a digital design program is a requirement to be a fashion designer as stated by The US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics. Digital Design Programs are the standard because of their clean lines, easily transmittable, ease of making changes to them, easy to store, easier to create a more realistic view of the design that mimics real life, cuts down on wastage when it comes to getting samples made & production. There are more reasons but this list is just to name a few.

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Fashion design - fashion illustration - apparel design

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Digital Programs For Designing Clothing

There are many dedicated fashion design programs and general graphic programs that can be used for fashion illustration and design. Most digital programs are capable of achieving the same professional results however the road in which you achieve those results varies. Example – with most programs you have to go to school to learn them or learn them on your own.  So with that being said, there are many deciding factors on which program to use. Factors such as preference, features, capabilities, ease of use, up front cost, long term cost, learning curve and your fashion goals come into play.

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Another deciding factor is that although most can achieve similar results but at the same time some more than others can help you personally achieve professional results a lot easier. Keep in mind that just because a program can be used for designing clothing and fashion design does not mean it teaches you exactly how to create your own professional fashion sketches. This is one reason why Digital Fashion Pro stands out because it teaches you exactly how to design clothing. The DFP programs combines customizable templates, digital fabrics and fashion design course wrapped in one. Also consider that a program like Digital Fashion Pro allows you to easily design jeans, dresses, t-shirts, sneakers, heels, boots, jackets, coats, swimwear, suits, hoodies, rompers, handbags, hats, underwear, socks, button shirts, blouses and baby clothing. With most of the other programs you have to first learn on your own how to design these items whereas with Digital Fashion Pro you get the tools to do so right out the box.

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Using fashion design software is a must in fashion design. It opens up so many options to use fabrics, textiles, prints, artworks and more in your design. It is also easy to swap these items in and out in seconds to create the best versions / collection for your line. These things are hard to achieve when drawing by hand and take considerable time and effort. It is always fine to doodle your design ideas while you are on the go but when it comes to preparing your designs for commercial application, a digital design program is imperative.

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Designer Denim Floral Jacket - Heel - Clutch - Created With Digital Fashion Pro - designed by Michael Harper w fashion design software

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Here is a list of the Top 5 Digital Fashion Illustration Programs That Can Make Professional Fashion Designs:

  1. Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software – Complete Design System
  2. Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator – General Graphic Program
  3. Corel Draw – General Graphic Program
  4. Browzwear – Fashion Design Software
  5. Opitex – Fashion Design Software

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Note: The above programs all can generate professional fashion designs. Digital Fashion Pro goes beyond and gives you additional tools and training out the box that can actually help you learn fashion design as well as be in position to create professional fashion sketches. With Digital Fashion Pro you will be able to create your own designs within minutes.

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Digital Fashion Pro - Adobe - fashion illustration - fashion design - design clothing

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Fashion Illustration – Practical Use

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One key element of fashion design and illustration is the generation of artwork that will be used in and on a garment. Fashion artwork has many applications and practical use. Artwork can be used for embroidery, screen-printing, sublimation printing, heat transfers, appliques and 3d printing. Artwork can also be the driving force / inspiration that goes into hangtags, labeling, prints, textiles, garments, handbags, shoes and more. A great fashion design could mean millions of dollars in profits. Fashion design is big business as the fashion industry generates hundreds of billions of dollars a year in profits in the USA alone according to a US Senate Member. With the social nature / reach of the internet – it is now possible for any fashion designer to engage in global business.

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Fashion Sketches – Bringing All Your Design Elements Together

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Fashion sketches are a vital part of fashion design and fashion illustration. A fashion designer must be able to convey their design ideas. Fashion sketches can be divided into a few sub-categories:

1 Hand Drawn Fashion Sketch (mainly for artistic purposes or being a first draft)

2 Digital Fashion Sketch (Often function as blueprints in commercial design)

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You can further look at fashion sketches based on the objective of the sketch:

1 Artistic – (just for showing artistic designs but aren’t necessary for production or function as a blueprint – can be both types)

2 Commercial application – (meaning it is used in the manufacturing process – Digital Fashion Sketches)

3 Use In A Designer Portfolio or Design Showcase (Can be both types of sketches)

4 Use for catalogs, lines sheets, spec sheets, investment tools, (Digital Fashion Sketches)

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Create your fashion designs with Digital Fashion Pro Fashion Design Software - model edition

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Designing a Clothing Line & The Role That Fashion Design Plays

Fashion Design & Illustration are critical components when designing your own clothing line. Fashion Design is the foundation of any clothing line. It plays a part in virtually every aspect of running a fashion line. Whether it is designing a t-shirt, button or even a hang tag – professional fashion illustration is a must. In large companies, there are many hats to wear under the fashion design umbrella. You can have titles like: menswear designer, women’s wear designer, t-shirt designer, children’s wear, couture, costume designer, accessories designer, technical designer, graphic designer, textile designer, footwear designer, chief creative director and more. When you are an independent line, you may be responsible for each of these duties where applicable.

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Is It Possible to Start a Clothing Line Without Going to School For It? Yes

Is there help for people who want to start their own line but do not know how to draw or how to get started? Yes

There is help for people who want to start their own clothing line but are true beginners. One such resource is the Fashion Mogul Clothing Line Start-Up Kit from StartMyLine.com.

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Designing Denim Jeans with Digital Fashion Pro

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Learn more about how to create your own professional illustrations here >

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Article by Michael Harper, Co-Founder of StartMyLine.com

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Citations & References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_design

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_illustration

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/fashion-designers.htm#tab-2

https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/reports?ID=034A47B7-D82A-4509-A75B-00522C863653

https://startmyline.com/dfp/