All you need to know about Career in Fashion Designing: Courses, Eligibility, Institutes and Jobs

All you need to know about Career in Fashion Designing: Courses, Eligibility, Institutes and Jobs

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Sayeba
Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager
Updated on May 14, 2026 17:48 IST
All you need to know about Career in Fashion Designing. Fashion Designing is a glamorous career that is aspired to by many students. But how exactly can to make a career in the fashion industry and make a mark? We take you through the step-wise process! The NID application will open in September and the NIFT application will open in November 2025.

Fashion Designing is a glamorous career that many students aspire to. But how exactly can one make a career in the fashion industry and make a mark? We take you through the step-wise process!

Fashion Designing has always captured the imagination of the public, but in the last few years or so, it has also quickly become one of the popular career choices for students. The mainstreaming of fashion designing as a career choice is spearheaded by top design institutes like the NIFTs and NIDs. Students passing out of these institutes often dazzle the world with their creative genius and are in high demand. 

But to make a mark in the fashion designing world, the candidate needs to have good sketching skills, be creative, be up to date with the latest fashion trends, and be ready to work hard. If you also dream of making a career in fashion designing, you need to first get a diploma or an undergraduate degree and learn the ropes of fashion designing, including the basics of designing clothes and apparel.

Also read:

Table of contents
  • What is Fashion Designing?
  • Task and Role of a Fashion Designer
  • How to Pursue a Career in Fashion Designing?
  • Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Fashion Designing Course
  • Top Institutes to Study a Course in Fashion Designing
  • Popular Fashion Designers in India
  • Top Fashion Designers in the World
  • Job Options for Fashion Designing in India
  • Fashion Designing Jobs - Average Base Salary
  • Career in Fashion Designing - Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Fashion Designing?

Fashion designing is the art of creating fashionable clothing and lifestyle accessories. Unlike products manufactured in a factory, fashion designing typically involves individually designing apparel and lifestyle items. In fact, the personal touch is one of the most significant features of fashion designing. 

To succeed in the field, you must be able to weave magic with textiles, shades, shapes, and colors. Constant innovation is also a byword for success in the field.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 for B.Des?
A: 

The expected cutoff for NIFT 2026 for B.Des is:

CategoryExpected Cutoff for B.Des
Open30-80
EWS26-29
OBC26-29
SC22
ST19
Q:   What is NIFT cutoff?
A: 
NIFT cutoff for a participating NIFT is the last rank for which admission is offered in for a particular programme and category. This means, if a candidate fails to score a rank equal to or higher than the cutoff rank, they don't get admission. Typically, a higher ranked institute will invite: More applications Higher ranked candidates This in turn pushes up the cutoff in higher ranked (or popular) institutes. Likewise, a lower-ranked institute will receive comparatively fewer number of applications, and mostly from lower-ranked candidates. This means, cut-off in these institutes are lower making it much easier to get admission.
Q:   Which academic stream should I have studied in Class 12 to be eligible for UCEED 2026 exam?
A: 

Candidates from any academic stream are eligible to apply for UCEED exam. However, for admission to IIT Guwahati it is mandatory for candidates to have passed Class 12 from Science stream. The candidate needs to carefully go through the eligibility criteria before they apply. It is because the candidate will not be considered for admission to the B. Des programme even if they get a rank in UCEED 2026 if they don't meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. Also, any candidate who is found to be using incorrect information about their eligibility stands to be disqualified if caught.

Q:   What are the various B. Des courses for which NIFT cut-off would be released?
A: 
There are 18 participating institutes of NIFT that offer the B. Des programme. Currently, the B. Des programme offers specializations in the following programs: Fashion Design (FD) Leather Design (LD) Accessory Design (AD) Textile Design (TD) Knitwear Design (KD) Fashion Communication (FC) Note that the National Institute of Fashion Technology will release the NIFT 2023 cut-off for each of these programs. To get admission, it is mandatory for candidates to meet the cut-off criteria in their respective categories.

Task and Role of a Fashion Designer

If you become a fashion designer, you will have to perform the following activities:

  • Manage the designing process from conception to the end (finished product). 
  • Considering designs must be trendy, you need to conduct market research to identify emerging and prevalent trends. 
  • You also must have a very keen eye as you will have to select the fabrics, clothes, and trims.
  • Make sketches for development packages  
  • You will also have to coordinate with designers to ensure the product is as per the required specifications.
  • During or before the product presentation, ensure the product is the right fit and design.
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How to Pursue a Career in Fashion Designing?

To become a fashion designer or pursue a career in fashion design, students must enroll in a diploma, undergraduate, or postgraduate degree program.

Course Level

Available Courses

Diploma 

Diploma in Fashion Technician

Diploma in Fashion Technology 

Diploma in Fashion Design

UG 

Bachelor of Design (BDes) 

Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech) 

Bachelor in Textile Design 

Bachelor in Fashion Design and Management 

Bachelor in Design and Fashion Management 

Master

Master of Design (MDes) 

Master of Fashion Management (MFM)

Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech) 

Master in Fashion Design Technology

Master in Fashion Design Technology

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Q: What is NID cutoff?
A: 
NID cutoff is the minimum score that candidates need to obtain in order to be considered for admissions to a design course. The participating institutes of NIDs offer B. Des and M.Des courses. The cut-off would be released category-wise for each of these programs. Also, the cut-off would be released separately for all the coaching institutes. Only such candidates who meet the cut-off criteria would be considered for admission.
Q:   I am from Humanities background, but have cleared UCEED 2026 Entrance Exam. Can I apply for IIT Roorkee B.Des programme?
A: 

No, you cannot apply for B.Des programme at IIT Roorkee even if you have cleared the UCEED Entrance Exam because Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are compulsory subjects in 10+2. But you can apply for B.Des programme at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Hyderabad and IIT Indore.

Q:   What is the eligibility criteria for IIT Guwahati B.Des Programme through UCEED?
A: 

To be eligible to apply for B.Des programme through UCEED, candidates should have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as subjects in 10+2. 

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Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Fashion Designing Course

  • Diploma courses - For admission to undergraduate diploma courses, the candidate simply needs to have passed Class 10 exam. There is also no need to appear in any entrance exam, as admission is typically on the basis of Class 10 (qualifying exam) marks.
  • Undergraduate degree course - For admission to fashion designing courses offered by the top institutes, the candidate will have to appear in entrance exams like NID, NIFT, UCEED, SEED, Pearl Academy Entrance Exam, etc. The minimum academic requirement is a 10+2 pass. 
  • Postgraduate degree course - Candidates who have completed their graduation can take admission to PG courses in fashion designing. Popular entrance exams include NID, NIFT, and CEED.
Course Level Fashion Design Eligibility Criteria
UG Diploma / BA / BSc / BDes in Fashion Design
  • Class 12 from any stream or equivalent (some colleges may need English as a mandatory subject).
  • With a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a recognised board.
PG Diploma / MA / MSc / MDes in Fashion Design
  • A bachelor's degree in Fashion Design or any relevant discipline.
  • With a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a recognised university.
After 10th Diploma/Certification
  • Class 10 scores with all the base subjects, including English.
PhD in Fashion Design
  • A master's degree in Fashion Design or any relevant discipline.
  • With a minimum of 50% aggregate score from a UGC-approved university.

Top Institutes to Study a Course in Fashion Designing

Some of the institutes offering Fashion design courses are:

Popular Fashion Designers in India

Some of the popular designers in India are:

Manish Malhotra

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

Ritu Kumar

Rohit Bal

Tarun Tahiliani

Neeta Lulla

Anita Dongre

Anamika Khanna

Ritu Beri

Raghavendra Rathore

Top Fashion Designers in the World

  • Guccio Gucci
  • Alber Elbaz
  • Gabrielle Chanel
  • Cristobal Balenciaga
  • Riccardo Tisci
  • Halston Designer

Job Options for Fashion Designing in India

After completion of the fashion design course, the student can take up any of the following jobs:

  • Fashion Designer
  • Makeup Artist
  • Fashion Journalist
  • Fashion Potographer
  • Model
  • Textile, footwear, or jewellery designer
  • Fashion Stylist
  • Retail Manager
  • Retail Buyer

Also read:

Fashion Designing Jobs - Average Base Salary

The average salary in fashion designing jobs is:

Job Role

Average Base Salary Per Year

Design Intern

INR 3, 64,384

Industrial Designer

INR 6, 03,770

Textile Designer

INR 4,24,813

Fashion Designer

INR 3,68,686

Product Designer

INR 6,58,032

Design Manager

INR 1,187,789

Jewellery Designer

INR 414,823

Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates

NIFT Round 3: Seat Allotment

15 Jul '26

KALSEE 2026 Application Form E...

19 Jul '26

Pearl Academy Application Form 2026

8 Sep '25 - 31 Jul '26

WWI Application 2026

1 Dec '25 - 31 Jul '26

NMIMS DAT 2026 Online registrations

3 Dec '25 - 31 Jul '26

UCEED 2026 Score Card

10 Mar '26 - 31 Jul '26

NIIFT 2026 Application form

25 Mar '26 - 14 Aug '26

SAT India Exam (August) Attempt

22 Aug '26

UID DAT 2026 Application: UID ...

1 Nov '25 - 31 Jul '26

Career in Fashion Designing - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the advantages of pursuing a career in fashion designing?

A.  Here are some of the reasons why you may choose a career in the design industry, 
  • The job more or less is glamorous
  • The payment is decent
  • There will be no room for monotony, as you will be surrounded by creativity
  • You get to meet influential and important people
  • If you like sketching and designing clothes, you are in the right profession.

Q. What are some of the disadvantages of working in the film industry?

A.  There are also some downsides of working in the fashion industry:
  1. Being a creative world, you are always under pressure to bring something new to the table
  2. There are tight deadlines to be met
  3. It is not a 9-5 job. Far from it! Get ready to work long and extended hours.
  4. Being such a glamorous industry, there is always competition knocking at your door. So, if you slip up, someone else may end up taking your place.

Q. How can I become a fashion designer?

A. One way to become a fashion designer is to pursue a fashion designing course from a top institute. There are many popular degree courses available at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels that one may take up; some diploma courses are also good.

Q. What kind of jobs can I may get after completing a course in fashion design?

A. A fashion designer may take up jobs like a fashion designer, stylist, make-up artist, retail manager, retain buyer, personal shopper, etc.

Q. What is the minimum eligibility criteria to become a fashion designer?

A. The student has to get enrolled into a design institute to become a fashion designer. The minimum academic requirement for admission into the undergraduate degree program is 10+2 pass. Also, the candidate will have to appear in entrance exams like NID, NIFT, SEED, and UCEED. Admission to diploma courses is based on 10+2 scores.
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About the Author
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Sayeba Naushad
Assistant Manager

Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s

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