Career in Textile Designing

Textile design as an integral part of fashion industry is a promising and remunerative career option today. As a creative career option it offers all one wants glamour, money and popularity. Day by day textile design courses are gaining much popularity in India particularly among young people.

It is because demands of Indian textile are on high both in domestic and foreign markets. Those with creative ingenuity and technical skills generally opt for the textile design course in India. Textile design comprises both surface design and structural design. Textile designers usually handle embroidery designs, print, weave and texture.

Course Details

Several kinds of courses are offered in textile design these days like Diploma, postgraduate diploma and certificate courses. For Diploma courses minimum eligibility is 10+2 pass or equivalent degree in any subjects. Generally most of the diplomas courses are of four-year duration. For postgraduate programme in the minimum qualification is graduation in textile design and allied subjects. Some institutes enrolled students through entrance tests conducted by the institute concerned. At the post-graduate level there are specialized courses in textile designing.

Career Prospects

With growing market potential for textile products there is a wide range of career options for textile designer. They can take up a full time job in garment manufacturing companies, fashion designing agencies, textile manufacturers and retail world. They also can work under a professional textile designer. Export houses also employ a number of textile designers. There are also growing opportunities with government sponsored and private silk, handloom, khadi, jute and craft development organizations. With some experience textile designers can work as freelancers offering their designs to different organizations.

Typical work activities

� making up sets of sample designs;
� working out a design formula for a group of samples;
� liaising with clients, technical staff, marketing and buying staff to plan and develop designs;
� accurately interpreting and representing clients' ideas;
� producing sketches and design ranges for presentation to customers;
� assessing and approving completed items;
� working independently, if self-employed, or liaising closely with colleagues as part of a small team;
� using specialist computer aided design (CAD) software to produce a range of designs;
� experimenting with colour, fabric and texture;
� maintaining up-to-date knowledge of new design and production techniques;
� developing new design concepts;
� ensuring that projects are completed on time;
� visiting sites and other sources of ideas for designs;
� sourcing fabrics and other materials at trade fairs, markets and antique shops;

Job description

Textiles designers work in knit, weave and print to create two-dimensional designs that can be produced in a design repeat for the production of commercial or artistic fabrics or textile products. Working in both industrial and non-industrial locations, they often specialise, or work in a specialist context, within the textile industry.

Textile designers may also work in associated industry functions, for example, designing wrapping paper, packaging, greetings cards and ceramics. Many textile designers are self-employed, while others work as part of a design team.

Remuneration

Textile designing is a highly remunerative career option. Fresh pass out from textile design schools may get Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month. With some experiences their salaries are bound to go up. In exporting houses experienced textile designers may draw Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000 per month. Freelance textile designers have also good earnings depending upon the nature of their assignment.

Institutes Offering

There are several institutes in India offering courses in Textile design. Some most important are:

� National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) at Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi;

� National Academy of Fashion Technology, New Delhi;

� National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad;

� International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), Chandigarh; International Polytechnic for Women, New Delhi;

� Arch Academy of Fashion Art Design, Jaipur.

Source: http://www.dayafterindia.com/june109/career.html