Fashion design is the art of applying design, aesthetics, clothing construction, and natural beauty to clothing and its accessories. It is a form of art dedicated to the creation of clothing and other lifestyle accessories. Fashion design is influenced by culture and different trends, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear, and they sketch designs, select fabrics, and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they design. There are different types of fashion designers, including accessory designers, costume and clothing designers, and footwear designers. Fashion designers work in wholesale or manufacturing establishments, apparel companies, retailers, theater or dance companies, and design firms. They can work for large brands and fashion houses or in the film and television industry.
Fashion design is divided into two basic categories: haute couture and ready-to-wear. The haute couture collection is dedicated to certain customers and is custom-sized to fit these customers exactly. In order to qualify as a haute couture house, a designer has to be part of the Syndical Chamber for Haute Couture and show a new collection twice a year presenting a minimum of 35 different outfits each time. Ready-to-wear collections are standard-sized, not custom-made, so they are more suitable for large production runs. They are also split into two categories: designer/createur and confection collections. Designer collections have a higher quality and finish as well as a unique design. They often represent a certain philosophy and are created to make a statement rather than for sale. Both ready-to-wear and haute-couture collections are presented on international platforms.
