Fashion Careers

Product Manager:

Product Managers are responsible for overseeing the conceptualization, design, construction, selling and distribution of a manufacturer or designer's products. They are also responsible for overseeing the set-up and implementation of quality assurance protocols for their product. Product Managers usually handle a specific product, or product line. This is a fairly senior position within a manufacturer's organization.

Experienced pay may range from $45,000 to $70,000
Top level pay is about $90,000



Education - a 4-year bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or Apparel Production is absolutely required. An MBA (Masters in Business Administration) is a plus, as is participation in some executive training programs.
Experience - between 5-10 years of apparel development or product management experience is required.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - highly analytical with strong math skills; extensive knowledge of the apparel industry and trends; ability to combine information from market sales and production data with fashion forecasts and translate into smart product-line decisions; decisive; well-organized; detail oriented; ability to work with other executives; calm under pressure.

Clothing Pattern Maker:

Clothing patternmakers make full-size paper or fiberboard patterns for clothing. Patternmakers use their expertise in body proportions and knowledge of fabric to translate the designer's apparel sketches into its various pattern pieces. Because of their understanding of the technical aspect of a design, patternmakers often act as liaisons between the design and manufacturing groups creating a specific clothing line.



level pay may range from and hourly rate of $6/hr to $11,000/yr
Median pay range is about $21,000
Top level pay is about $40,000-$150,000
* There may be opportunities for earning overtime pay.



Qualifications: Education - a 1-2 year certificate or degree from a vocational or technical training school is usually required. Experience - Apprenticeships with more experienced patternmakers are very helpful, as is retail sales or design experience.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - great technical skills with an ability to use drafting tools (calipers, squares, straight and curved rules); expertise with body proportions; good computer skills (specifically with CAD programs - computer assisted drawing); ability to visualize the finished garment from a designers drawings, designs, and sketches; detail oriented; understanding of apparel manufacturing process; good communication skills.

Pattern Grader :

are responsible for reducing or enlarging a pattern created by a patternmaker in order to produce clothes across a range of sizes (S, M, L, etc) and fits (tall, petite). Pattern graders may use charts, machinery, or computer programs in their work. In general, pattern grading is considered more of a technically oriented career than patternmaking or designing.



Salary Range: $18,000 to $25,000



Qualifications: Education - a 2-year degree in Patternmaking Technology, Fashion Design or related field is required.
Experience - Experience with patternmaking computer software and hardware is helpful.
Personal Characteristics/Skills - Understanding of apparel construction and manufacturing and patternmaking; good drafting and math skills; ability to do precise manual work; analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to manage deadlines and multiple projects.