This post has been syndicated from Andrea Bou, and InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here.
There are a lot of things to consider before pursuing a degree in fashion. People often think that studying fashion will only teach you how to dress better and look amazing, or that you will only make dresses for events and all things ~glamorous~. But, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
A degree in fashion is everything but simple. You have to put in a lot of work, a lot of time, little sleep, and a whole lot of creativity. You have to deliver a message, you have to tell a story. You may have to cover some functional necessities. And most of all you have to keep in mind that you will be working with the human body as the main tool. And all of these things tend to be rawer and make you connect in a different and deeper level than just plain luxury.
It’s not all fun and games like people often believe. So I’m going to give you four things to consider before pursuing a degree in fashion, so you know what to expect.
1. It’s very time consuming.
Expect to have a massive workload for a lot of different classes. You will be pushed to your limits and you’re going to eventually run out of creativity and ideas.
You’re going to spend several hours of the day attending class, and whatever hours left you will have to dedicate to homework and school projects. So say goodbye to your social life.
I know that sounds really harsh, but if you’re going to study fashion, it means it’s your passion. So even though it sounds like a lot of work (which it is) you are also going to enjoy every step of the process! (Promise it’s worth it.) You’re going to learn a lot, and you will find yourself getting better and better in everything along the creative process.
2. You have to be very organized.
Since you are going to have to put in a lot of time to each and every project that comes your way, I really recommend starting the project the day that a professor sends it to you. Forget about deadlines! If you focus only on the deadline dates, there will come a day that you will have a lot of projects still left to do and you won’t make it in time. But if you start the project the same day it is given to you, by the time you get sent another project to do, the first one is going to be advanced or even finished.
3. It’s expensive.
Fabrics, sewing machines, sewing materials, threads, a good pair of scissors, a computer, editing software. A lot of paper and ink, or in that case, also going to your local printer and paying the fees, different stationary products, school books, a good iron, rulers – the list goes on and on.
The monthly or annual cost of the university itself and don’t forget your undergraduate project (fabrics, materials, photographer, cinematographer, models, etc). So keep in mind this degree is really expensive.
4. You’re going to have to become very competitive.
At the end of the day, fashion is art. And art is subjective. So not everyone is going to like what you do, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong!
Of course, fashion has it’s very technical side, especially through pattern making. So if you have the technicalities wrong, well then yes, the result is “wrong.” But if you are only considering if people like it or not, don’t bother yourself – as long as you like it, it’s good to go. If you give everything you’ve got and push yourself to make everything as good as you can, then it doesn’t matter that the guy beside you is doing better than you. Because then again that will be very subjective. So focus on what you have to focus and push your own limits, always challenge yourself. That’s the only way to grow and get better.
Besides, I’ve always thought that it’s better to have someone that is better than you, because that pushes you to constantly improving yourself. Otherwise, you will certainly settle for whatever lame thing you come up with first. And that is the recipe for not growing and improving at all.
Read the full post here.