Fashion and Interior Design

Fashion and Interior Design Icon

Who will be the new internationally famous designers? Could it be you? Someone will be creating their own fashion statements and creating the styles which appeal to millions of fashion conscious shoppers.

The Fashion and Interior Design Industry Sector is a multibillion-dollar enterprise offering a wide variety of careers. Don’t think just in terms of the creative art portion of the industry, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution are related areas necessary for a designer to be successful. A particularly high demand exists for preproduction jobs involving computerized pattern making and product data management. Employment in the fashion industry is expected to grow at a high pace. Interior designers will also be in demand to accommodate a growing population’s need for residential and commercial space. Technology is a significant and growing component in the design industry. Self motivation and confidence, as well as creativity are traits that lead to success in this sector.

Career Pathways

Fashion Design, Manufacturing, and Merchandising Pathway

The Fashion Design, Manufacturing, and Merchandising Pathway can lead to careers from clothing designer to professional shopper. Few careers offer the opportunities, creativity, and versatility of the fashion world. From small entrepreneur to large manufacturer, rewarding jobs in fashion exist in most communities. Students in this pathway will gain in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry, including fashion history, textiles and textile production, apparel merchandising, and garment construction.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Fashion Designers
  • Pattern Makers
  • Fashion Illustrators/Photographers
  • Visual Merchandisers
  • Fashion Buyers
  • Sales Associates
  • Fashion Advisors
  • Seamstress/Alterations
  • Showroom Assistants
  • Stylists

Interior Design, Furnishings, and Maintenance Pathway

From corporate America to individual homeowners, professionals are in demand to help create or enhance living and working environments. Students preparation for careers in this rapidly growing field includes learning the elements of design and decorating, furniture designs from historical periods, space planning, and computer assisted design.

Careers/Career Areas:

  • Interior Designers
  • Visual Merchandisers
  • Design Assistants
  • Set Decorators
  • Preservationists
  • Facility and Space Planners
  • Computer Aided Design (Cad) Specialists
  • Photo Stylists
  • Ergonomic Consultants
  • Kitchen, Bath, Window, Lighting, Wall or Floor Covering Specialists

Labor Market Information

The information below is just a small sample of the many great employment related resources available on the State of California website www.edd.ca.gov. We encourage you to visit the website and explore the available information.

Occupation Title Employment Levels in 2006 Projected Employment Level 2016 Projected Job Growth Percent of Job Growth 2008 Hourly ¹Mean Wage 2008 ²Weekly Mean Wage 2008 ³Monthly Mean Wage 2008 Annual Mean Wage
Advertising Sales Agents 21,000 25,300

4,300

20.5%

 $27.70

$1,108.00

$4,653.60

$55,843.20
Art Directors 16,000 18,300

2,300

14.4%

 $49.62

$1,984.80

$8,336.16

$100,034.00
Commercilal & Industrial Designers 5,900 6,600

700

11.9%

 $36.46

$1,458.40

$6,125.28

$73,503.40
Craft Artists

0

0.0%

 $18.67

$746.80

$3,136.56

$37,638.70
Customer Service Representatives 201,200 256,800

55,600

27.6%

 $17.26

$690.40

$2,899.68

$34,796.20
Cutters & Trimmers 6,200 6,100

-100

-1.6%

 $10.71

$428.40

$1,799.28

$21,591.40
Fabric & Apparel Patternmakers 2,300 2,000

-300

-13.0%

 $23.55

$942.00

$3,956.40

$47,476.80
Fashion Designers 4,600 5,300

700

15.2%

 $36.64

$1,465.60

$6,155.52

$73,866.20
Fashion Editors 14,100 15,600

1,500

10.6%

 $28.04

$1,121.60

$4,710.72

$56,528.60
Graphic Designers 36,700 41,800

5,100

13.9%

 $25.99

$1,039.60

$4,366.32

$52,395.80
Interior Designers 6,900 8,200

1,300

18.8%

 $28.55

$1,142.00

$4,796.40

$57,556.80
Jewlers & Precious Stone Workers 5,700 5,800

100

1.8%

 $12.67

$506.80

$2,128.56

$25,542.70
Merchandise Displayers & Window Trimm 11,300 13,500

2,200

19.5%

 $14.43

$577.20

$2,424.24

$29,090.90
Models

0

0.0%

 $13.04

$521.60

$2,190.72

$26,288.60
Painting, Coating & Decorating Workers 2,300 2,400

100

4.3%

 $11.91

$476.40

$2,000.88

$24,010.60
Photographers 13,800 15,900

2,100

15.2%

 $22.69

$907.60

$3,811.92

$45,743.00
Retail Sales Supervisors 188,900 210,600

21,700

11.5%

 $19.74

$789.60

$3,316.32

$39,795.80
Retail Salespersons 494,500 603,800

109,300

22.1%

 $12.43

$497.20

$2,088.24

$25,058.90
Sales Representatives 152,300 179,600

27,300

17.9%

 $30.80

$1,232.00

$5,174.40

$62,092.80
Set & Exhibit Designers 2,300 2,700

400

17.4%

 $30.34

$1,213.60

$5,097.12

$61,165.40
Tailors, Dressmakers, & Custom Sewers 6,400 7,100

700

10.9%

 $13.51

$540.40

$2,269.68

$27,236.20
Textil & Apparel Workers 1,800 1,500

-300

-16.7%

 $11.12

$444.80

$1,868.16

$22,417.90
Wholesale & Retail Buyers 21,300 22,000

700

3.3%

 $26.59

$1,063.60

$4,467.12

$53,605.40
Wholesale & Retail Buyers 21,300 22,000

700

3.3%

 $26.59

$1,063.60

$4,467.12

$53,605.40

These selected occupations with information on job growth, percent growth and earning potentials are based on information found at www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov.

¹Mean: Midpoint between highest & lowest ²Weekly: Based on 40 hours ³Monthly: Based on 168 hours

Employment Data Sheet: 
application/pdf icon
fashion-labor.pdf
Brochure: 
application/pdf icon
fashon-industry-brochure.pdf

This material is made pursuant to agreement number 07-0170a of the CTE Community Collaborative Supplemental grant. Funds were administered by the Governor’s CTE Initiative SB70/SB 1133 through the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Activity that is the subject of this document was supported in whole or part by the U.S. Department of Education. However, the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and no official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education should be inferred.

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