As a college student majoring in fashion design, I was always afraid to disclose my field of study in fear of the rude comments I would often get in return. If you ever encounter a fashion student, be sure to never blurt out any of the comments you read here.
1. "That’s a cut-throat industry you chose. You really need to have guts."
Fashion is an industry of creativity. In any department within fashion, you need to be aware of trends, popular color choices, the newest statement pieces and the most influenced styles of the season. In all honesty, if you love what you do and you are well aware of the aspects of the industry, it isn't any more cut-throat than any other field of study. Being a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer or any of the other majors you could possibly think of are just as competitive as the fashion industry, be it marketing or design.
Also, don’t question if I have guts; I’m gutsy enough to chase my dreams, no matter what it takes to get me there!
2. "Oh, so you chose the easy major!"
On the other side of the spectrum, many assume that fashion design is the major that the kids who were forced into college chose. Wrong! In fact, the people that chose the major but were not 100% devoted, drop out before you could acknowledge that they were in your class. Fashion Design is engineering. We engineer two-dimensional fabric to fit the three-dimensional body. Fashion design is psychology. We are required to learn the psychological aspects of why we wear clothes and how we are culturally influenced to choose garments. So the next time you assume I chose the easy major, assess the outfit you are wearing and design it yourself.
3. “You are so smart, you should strive for something better.”
Again, fashion is a career for smart people. We are required to take math, science, economics and history courses. We cover all the bases. I’m striving for a career that will make me happy every single day that I step in to work. If I chose any other career, I am absolutely positive I would wish I stuck with what truly made me happy. As they say, it’s not work if you enjoy what you do!
4. "Try being realistic... Maybe come up with a backup plan?"
I am well aware that as soon as I step out of college I will not be the owner of a multi-million dollar company. I know that I will struggle in the beginning! But so will everyone else. No degree promises a job without a fight. However with my dedication, I can promise you that within a few years of graduating I will make my way in the industry.
5. "Can you design all my clothes for me?"
Sure, I could. Will I? Most likely not. With all of the assignments that I have to do for my major, I barely have time to catch my breath! Believe me, I would love to design individual outfits for all of my friends and family, but it’s nearly impossible to keep up with all of the work I’m assigned, let alone take on more projects. The good news is if you wait a few more years, you can buy my clothes as soon as they hit the stores.
So, the next time you encounter a fashion student in your school ask them questions about their dream job in the industry! There are so many different jobs that fall under the fashion category and we would be delighted to share our passion with you. Give us some credit for following our dreams, no matter the daily negativity we face.
