Fashion and design : Overview

The industry in a nutshell

The UK market for clothing and footwear was worth an estimated £52billion in 2009 (Office for National Statistics (ONS) ).

Whilst China and Hong Kong are the leading exporters to the UK, UK imports as a whole are spread across a range of countries, with the Irish Republic, Germany and France the leading export markets (HMRC Trade Data for 2009).

The UK manufacturing base has shrunk dramatically in recent years, with exports of luxury and designer products sustaining the industry (Clothing & Footwear Industry Market Review, 2010).The sector is very competitive for graduates, with a rise in the importance and speed of design, marketing and distribution.

What kind of work can I do?

The fashion and textile industry has always recruited graduates for designer and production manager roles, but now recruitment is broadening. Business and technical skills and international business savvy are increasingly important. The types of careers graduates are recruited into can be divided into the following categories:

• Design and product development: use creative and technical skills to initiate new products and ranges and update existing ones.
• Business and management: manage the processes between the starting point (product initiation) and the end result (supply of goods to the customer).
• Technology: use specialist technical knowledge to support the design and production process.
• Associated careers: There are many associated fashion and textile careers. Their focus is on fashion and textiles but they originate from other industries such as journalism, media, conservation, archiving, teaching and lecturing.

What’s it like working in this industry?

All companies have unique expectations and working cultures. However, you are expected to have a strong interest in fashion, read relevant press and be up to date with future trends.

Working conditions vary depending on the nature of work. For example, working as a designer differs significantly from working as a buyer or as a fashion journalist. Remuneration, especially at the first steps of your career, is not particularly good. You may have to work long hours, especially if you are freelance. If you have an office role, working hours are 9am to 5pm. Some roles, e.g. buyer, involve time away from home on business trips.

As awareness about environmental conservation, cruelty to animals and ethical issues in business is rising, fashion brands are increasingly adopting ethical production values. Customers are also becoming more aware of ethical fashion, with demand on the rise.

There are more women working in the sector than men. However, many employers are working towards implementing diversity initiatives.

How big is this industry?

There are approximately over 12,000 clothing businesses and 156,000 people employed in the fashion and design industry in the UK. Approximately 20,000 people work as designers across the fashion and textiles sector (Skillset 2010).

Where can I work?

Various parts of the fashion and textile industry are localised within the UK. This is often related to the sector’s historical roots.

For example, the major regions for clothing companies are the East Midlands, the North West, London and the Borders region of Scotland.

The major regions for textiles are the North West, the East Midlands, the Borders region of Scotland and Yorkshire. London has relatively few textile companies.

The majority of the largest retailers have branches in all of the major cities. However, head offices are generally concentrated around London and the South East. London is the centre for the media and the music businesses, both of which are important in influencing and communicating trends within the fashion industry.