Fashion has always been and still is an aesthetic expression; however, its true value is derived when the aesthetic expression is found in the specific context of the culture of the time. As such, fashion trends keep evolving to reflect the tastes of the public at large. Do you enjoy staying on top of the latest fashion trends? If yes, then a career in fashion trend forecasting might be the right choice for you!
Who are fashion trend forecasters, and what do they do?
Often considered the backbone of the fashion industry, trend forecasters ensure that designers create garments and accessories coming in trend or are already trending. The apparel design they forecast for a fashion label is used to design fresh stock keeping the brand’s image in mind.
Simply put, clothing and accessory line-ups will have a hard time engaging customers without fashion forecasters. These professionals don't just have a knowledge base and keen observational skills; they also put in a tonne of research into their forecasts.
Not many know this, but there are two types of fashion forecasts:
Short-term forecasts: Also termed fad forecasting, short-term forecasts predict the trends that will emerge in the next one or two years.
Long-term forecasts: As the name suggests, these predictions look into fashion trends for the next five to 10 years. Long-term fashion forecasters also contribute to crafting a brand’s trend adoption strategies, image design, and extending product lines.
Regardless of the type of forecasting they specialise in, a fashion forecaster predicts the patterns, silhouettes, hues, prints, graphics, fabrics, footwear, and other accessories that will be seen on the runway and stores from season to season.
How you can become a fashion forecaster
The ideal way to become a fashion forecaster is to choose undergraduate fashion design course in college. You can also study to become a fashion designer or fashion manager and then branch out into this field.
In a nutshell, a formal study in fashion is a must if you wish to become a fashion forecaster. Doing this will provide you with a solid knowledge base and add gravitas to your CV when you start out in this industry.
If you get into a reputed college to study fashion, they will encourage an industry internship, which you must pursue seriously. Make sure you gain as much industry experiences as you can early on. After your graduate, begin by working full-time with a fashion label, magazine, or brand.
Yes, magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and many others consult fashion forecasters to provide insights into the up and coming trends. Also, try to pick up basic article writing skills in case your profile also requires you to post a blog or edit one.
Lastly, remember that learning never stops when you are a fashion forecaster. Keeping yourself updated on a wide range of fashion-related topics, industries, and cultures goes a long way towards assimilating the latest trends.
Cultivate your intuition and curiosity to improve your observational skills. This will help you become a better fashion trend forecaster. Also, ensure you do a lot of research, even when you are not on a deadline. As a fashion forecaster, you may need to conduct statistical market research – something you can learn on the job.
Over to you
Not only a career path, but fashion forecasting is also a helpful skill that fashion managers can hone. If you are a fashion brand manager, you must understand the role forecasting plays within the industry and how to use predictions to plan your future marketing campaigns.
So,
if you want to get into the fashion industry, think about becoming a fashion
trend forecaster. But, before that, develop a comprehensive knowledge base
about the industry bychoosingundergraduate fashion design courses from a globally
renowned institution like the Pearl Academy.
