Fashion Design Career Guide: Roles, Salary 2025 & Future Scope
Pallavi Priyadarshini PandaContent Writer
Fashion Design career scope is one of the most creative fields out there with a high demand. As an art, it's a combination of aesthetics, natural beauty and design for clothing and accessories that people of all walks of life wear.
Fashion Design programs teach innovation and originality in the fashion and marketing worlds. Candidates interested in this field can pursue a variety of Fashion Design courses, such as BDes in Fashion Design, MDes in Fashion Design, BFTech, BSc in Fashion Design, MSc in Fashion Design, etc.
Fashion Design students can seek employment opportunities in industries like Fashion houses, Entertainment, Online Brands, Media, Theatre & Dance, Retail, etc. Some popular Fashion Designer jobs include Jewellery Designer, Fashion Consultant, Textile Designer, Stylist, Merchandiser, etc.
The average Fashion Designer salary is INR 4.4 LPA in India. Interested candidates can continue reading the article to learn more about the Scope in Fashion Designing field.
Links relevant to Fashion Designer Career Scope:
Fashion Design Career Scope: Quick Facts
Students who wish to pursue a career in the Fashion Design field must be updated about Fashion and its allied industries. Here are some interesting yet informative stats around the Fashion Design industry:
- In FY25 (April-June), the Indian exports of readymade garments like accessories stood at US$ 2,244 million.
- The Indian textiles and apparel market is expected to grow at a 10% CAGR to reach US$ 350 billion by 2030. Exports are projected to reach US$ 100 billion.
- India is the world's 3rd largest exporter of Textiles and Apparel.
- The country ranks among the top 5 global exporters in many textile categories, with exports expected to reach US$100 billion.
- The Medical Textiles market of India for drapes and gowns stood at US$ 9.71 million in 2022 and is projected to grow by 15% to reach US$ 22.45 million by 2027.
Links useful for Fashion Designer Scope:
Why is Design Education Important?
Top Career Profiles in Fashion Design
Fashion Designer jobs are expected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Searching for the best career options in Fashion Design unveils an impactful field with numerous ways for innovation. Candidates who have a passion for the fashion industry offer various exciting opportunities for style and design.
Here are some top Fashion Design career profiles along with salary and other details, for candidates' reference:
|
Job Profiles |
Job Description |
Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
|
Fashion Designers |
They design clothing, shoes, and accessories that are on-trend and appeal to consumers. Their work involves both creative and technical tasks. | INR 4.4 LPA |
|
Fashion Merchandisers |
They maintain the company's designs' affordability and their target market appeal. They collaborate with Designers, Manufacturers, Suppliers, and Retailers for product plans, sources, and distribution. | INR 3.3 LPA |
|
Accessories Designers |
Accessory Designers design products such as handbags, suitcases, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, and eyewear. | INR 4.8 LPA |
|
Fashion Advisors |
They offer advice and guidance to businesses in clothing selection, accessories and merchandise that reflect their brand personality and align with industry standards. | INR 2.9 LPA |
|
Fashion Stylists |
They make a visual identity for a client or project by choosing clothing, accessories, and other aspects to tell a story. | INR 4.1 LPA |
|
Fashion Journalists |
They attend events related to the Fashion industry such as award shows, fashion shows, etc. They also interview businessmen, celebrities, Fashion Designers, etc. | INR 4.1 LPA |
|
Fashion Photographers |
They collaborate with Designers and Models to capture pictures for advertising campaigns, fashion magazines, and catalogues. They also shoot videos of fashion events and models. | INR 3.7 LPA |
Note: The salary information is taken from Ambitionbox.com.
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Fashion Design: Types of job profiles
Emerging Trends in the Fashion Industry
The fashion industry is constantly emerging and adapting to the technological advancements happening in society. This calls for new employment and learning opportunities as well. Here are some latest trends in the Fashion field, that are creating hype in 2025:
- Artificial Intelligence: Stores are using touchscreens and chatbots to enhance the customer experience and provide personalized product recommendations. Algorithms that monitor consumer journeys to match them with appropriate products are part of the technology underlying artificial intelligence.
- Novel Fabrics: Modern materials that have been infused with conductive threads or nanotechnology are commonly used to create smart textiles. They have incredible features like moisture-wicking properties to keep users comfortable and dry during physical activity, temperature control to adjust to changing weather conditions, and even activity monitoring to track performance metrics in the athleisure and sportswear markets.
- Internet of Things (IoT): To better represent the realities of our everyday lives, everyday fashion keeps evolving. The fashion industry has to keep up with the pace of adapting to the demands of modern life, which has included everything from a strong emphasis on comfort to the use of novel and exciting fabrics. Data sharing, inventory control, security, and enhanced productivity and efficiency are all made possible by the Internet of Things (IoT).
- Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR & AR): One of the most intriguing uses of virtual reality has been the integration of online and physical retail environments. This is undoubtedly the case in the fashion sector, where allowing clients to virtually try on clothing is one common application of virtual reality. This uses augmented reality technology in addition to customized measurement functionality to provide increased accuracy. Additionally, it suggests that consumers may be more inclined to purchase goods they feel like trying on.
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All you need to know about a Career in Fashion Designing
Top Fashion Designing Recruiters
Fashion Design students can work for a variety of industries like Fashion houses, Entertainment, Online Brands, Media, Theatre & Dance, Retail, etc. Here are some popular fashion companies that hire Fashion Design students for various job roles:
|
Top Fashion Recruiters in India |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Fabindia |
Myntra |
Allen Solly |
|
Manyavar |
H&M |
Ajio |
|
Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail |
Sabyasachi Couture |
Globus |
|
Raymonds |
Tata Cliq |
Pantaloons |
Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.
Links relevant to Fashion Designing course job opportunities:
All About The Career As A Fashion Designer
Best Fashion Design Colleges for Placements (in India)
Along with offering advanced learning opportunities to students, Fashion Design colleges are also popular for their great placement records. Campus placements are indeed a great way to help students kickstart their career journey. Here are some of the top Fashion Design Colleges known for the best placements in India:
|
Best Fashion Design Colleges |
Average Package Offered |
|---|---|
| IIT Bombay Placements | INR 19.63 LPA |
| Delhi University Placements | INR 16 LPA |
| Vijaybhoomi University Placements | INR 13.3 LPA |
| Dashmesh Girls College, Mukerian Placements | INR 12 LPA |
| Manipal School of Architecture and Planning Placements | INR 11.75 LPA |
| ITM University, Gwalior Placements | INR 10.7 LPA |
| KSFT Placements | INR 9.5 LPA |
| BHU Placements | INR 8-9 LPA |
| Symbiosis Institute of Design Placements | INR 8.9 LPA |
| Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology Placements | INR 5.65 - 8.65 LPA |
Note: The information is taken from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.
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Top 10 Fashion Designing Colleges with Best Placement Record
Top 10 Fashion Design Colleges in India
Fashion Designing Courses Career FAQs
Q. Is Fashion Design a good career option?
A. Yes. Fashion Design is a good option for creativity. It is not like traditional corporate jobs. You learn new skills by making creative designs. Having passion can help to build a successful career.
Q. What is the difference between Fashion Designing and Fashion Styling?
A. Fashion Designing and Fashion Styling are prominent parts of the Fashion industry. Fashion Styling involves using of existing materials and products in order to achieve a certain expected look. Whereas a Fashion Designer creates Fashion products from raw materials that can be used for retail. People pursuing both these job profiles work together in many Fashion companies. Some companies may have job roles that require the same person to be a Fashion Designer as well as Fashion Stylist.
Q. What is the difference between a Fashion Designer and a Tailor?
A. A Fashion Designer as well as a Tailor are in fields that require them to work with clothing. However, these two jobs have distinct job roles which is described in the table below:
|
Tailor |
Fashion Designer |
|---|---|
|
Stitches and makes changes in pieces of clothing. |
Creates new samples of clothing |
|
Uses own ways of stitching and can follow any design. |
Works for a brand which owns its designs. |
|
Possess expertise in sewing |
Possess expertise in Fashion Design |
|
It is easier for clients to get customized pieces. |
There is restricted option of customization |
Q. What is a Fashion Show?
A. A Fashion Show is an event at which Fashion Models present the new designer clothes that are to be introduced. It is usually organized on the onset of every season. It is a great platform for Fashion Designers to showcase their work. New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week are the major global fashion shows. India Fashion Week, Lakme Fashion Week and India International Fashion Festival are some of the top fashion shows conducted in India.
Q. Which is the Fashion Capital of India?
A. Mumbai, is considered as a Fashion Capital by many. The city has many Fashion brands, events and designers. It is the place of residence of Bollywood celebrities who are Brand Ambassadors of many Fashion products and companies. Other cities of India such as Delhi and Bangalore are also known as highly fashionable cities. Delhi is famous for Winter Fashion in India.
Q. What is the difference between Fast Fashion and Luxury brands?
A. It is important for students to understand about different kinds of Fashion brands so that it would help them choose career options based on their preferences. Given below are some differences between Fast Fashion and Luxury brands or High-end Fashion:
|
Fast Fashion |
High-end Fashion |
|---|---|
|
It produces fashion products in large volume |
It produces fashion products in limited volume. |
|
It has faster pace of production. |
It has slower production pace. |
|
It uses large-scale production methods and techniques. |
It use exceptional artistry. |
|
It produces clothing that is affordable. |
It produces clothing that is expensive |
|
Mass productions may trigger environmental issues. |
Uses eco-friendly methods of production. |
Q. What do Fashion Influencers do?
A. Fashion influencers give tips on fashion. They use social media to do so. Their income comes from brands and sponsors. Many people follow them and learn their lystyle hacks. Hence they are called influencers
Q. Why should I opt for a career in Fashion Design field?
Candidates can see below the reasons to opt Fashion Design career -
Creative expression
Various job opportunities
Practice Creativity
Travelling
Global Industry
Worldwide Opportunities, and many other reasons.
Source: External website and may vary.
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8 Dec ' 25 - 6 Jan ' 26 | NIFT 2026 application form OPEN (Regular fees) |
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- B.Des. in Accessory DesignNational Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Yes, TDV Entrance Exam 2026 will be conducted online. The exam will have two parts. Part 1 is Aptitude Test and Part 2 is an online Interview.
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SOFT CET Entrance Examination will consist of General Ability Test + Creative Ability Test / Group Discussions + Personal Interview. All candidates must give all three tests.
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Answered Yesterday
The eligibility critria for SOFT M.Des is
- Full-time Degree of minimum 4 year duration in Design/Fine Arts/Applied Arts/Architecture
- Three Year Bachelor Degree from any recognised University, In B Design/ Fashion Technology, B Tech. / 3 years Diploma of Government Polytechnic + Any Bachelor's Degree &
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Answered Yesterday
The eligibility criteria for SOFT B.Des is
- XIIth Pass in any Stream – Arts/Commerce/Science/Home-Science/Minimum Competency Vocational Course (MCVC), including National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
- Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE)/ other State Govt. Technical Education ful
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The application fee for SOFT CET 2026 is INR 4,000 for B.Des and M.Des programes. The applications are open for all the programmes. The institute has not specified the last date.
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Answered Yesterday
SOFT CET exams will be on January 09, 2026 and January 10, 2026. The exam will include three tests: 1) General Ability Test, 2) Studio Test, and 3) Personal Interview + Portfolio Statement of Purpose. The applications are open for UG and PG programmes.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates can see the table below or the top NIFT accepting Fashion Designing colleges in India with tuition fees -
| College Names | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| NIFT Bangalore Admission | INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Patna Admission | INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Kolkata Admission | INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Raebareli Admission | INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Shillong Admission | INR 12 lakh |
Source: Official site and may vary.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
Yes, you can work abroad after completing Fashion Technology from NIFT. But, it would require a strong portfolio, try gain experience from international freelancing projects, and if possible, go for higher studies.
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Answered a month ago
To fill application form for UID DAT B.Des, candidate should have passed Class 12 in any stream or should have a 3year Diploma equivalent to 10+2 from any recognised university.
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Answered a month ago
UID DAT 2026 will be conducted online. The exam will be conducted in two tiers, Tier 1 and Tier 2. The weightage of Tier 1 is 40% and Tier 2 is 60%.
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UID DAT Application fee for B.Des and M.Des is INR 2000. The application is open for all categories. Forms can be filled online and offline.
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Yes, you can fill UID DAT application form offline and online. The Application is open for 2026 for all categories. The online exam will be on January 11, 2026.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Of Course, fashion merchandising and retail are strong career paths after B.Design Fashion Design at Chandigarh University. The university not only teaches design but also focuses on business aspects of fashion. With collaboration and tie-ups with fashion houses, students get internships in retail c
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 months ago
Fashion design is where skill and imagination go together. When such a student thinks of starting a career, it matters a lot course structure and kind of exposure. The university, Chandigarh, has a programme that focuses on modern training and includes traditional design learning. Here, students can
B
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 months ago
After finishing B.Design in Fashion Design from Chandigarh University you do not just step into a single career path you actually get multiple options to choose from. Some students become designers working with retail brands or start their own labels, while others get into the business side of fashi
U
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 months ago
It is possible to publish research papers while pursuing a B.Design in Fashion at Chandigarh University. Research opportunities exist in areas such as sustainable fabrics, textile innovation, fashion technology, traditional crafts, and design processes, despite the fact that fashion is a creative fi
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, Campus tours at chandigarh University include a complete overview of the Fashion & Design Department as well as general campus amenities. Visitors can see labs such as garment construction, textile and dyeing, design studeios, and computer-aided design labs, all equipped with industry-standard
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Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 months ago
Fashion and Design students at CU do receive good support when it comes to placements. The university organizes placement drives, inviting companies from apparel, retail, and lifestyle sectors. Students also attend workshops on communication and presentation skills, which are important in this creat
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Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 months ago
Chandigarh University's B.Design in Fashion Design is a four-year undergraduate course. It's spread across eight semesters, where students balance theory and practical learning. The programme gives access to labs like pattern making, garment construction, textile and dyeing, and computer-aided desig
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Beginner-Level 4
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