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Fashion design assistant

Alternative titles for this job include

Fashion design assistants help designers create new clothing ranges for fashion brands and labels.

Average salary (a year)

£22,000 Starter

to

£30,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends flexibly

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Fashion design assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

University

You could do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in a subject like:

  • fashion
  • art and design
  • textiles

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

More Information

College

You could take a college course to learn skills in pattern cutting, sample machining and computer-aided design.

Courses include:

  • fashion design
  • fashion and textiles
  • art and design
  • T Level in Craft and Design

Look for courses that teach both the creative and technical side of the job. These will give you the practical skills that employers look for.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Fashion Studio Assistant Level 3, or Garment Maker Level 3, Advanced Apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships take around 2 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and classroom learning.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start as a general assistant with a fashion company or retailer, then work your way up by doing training and gaining qualifications in fashion design.

Volunteering

There is strong competition for jobs in the fashion industry, so it will help if you can get some experience and make employer contacts through internships, work placements or volunteering.

This will give you an understanding of the role and can help with interviews.

The British fashion industry supports initiatives like the National Saturday Club for young people aged 13 to 16, looking to learn about fashion careers.

More Information

Career tips

You'll usually need to put together a portfolio of your work for course and job applications. This should include mood boards, designs, drawings and examples of finished items of clothing you have made.

Further information

You can find more details about working in fashion from:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • design skills and knowledge
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a fashion design assistant, you could:

  • research fashion tends, fabrics and trims
  • contribute ideas during the development of new clothing ranges
  • produce sketches and designs by hand or with design software
  • help create patterns, samples and prototype garments
  • inspect product quality during the design process
  • add product details to a management system for production and sales
  • deal with customer orders and deliveries

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio or in a workshop.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With training and experience you could become a fashion designer, then senior designer.

You might also move into:

  • sales and marketing
  • fashion buying
  • photographic styling for product launches and shows

You could work as a freelance designer and create your own collections.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Costume Making Apprentice

  • Wage: £14,144 to £25,282.40 a year Annually
  • Location: COVENT GARDEN, LONDON
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Fashion Design

  • Provider: BRADFORD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2025
  • Location: Bradford

Fashion Design Level 2 Diploma

  • Provider: NEW CITY COLLEGE
  • Start date: 11 September 2025
  • Location: HACKNEY
Find courses near you

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