Long before you buy a garment
in the store, it's already been through a process that runs from the drawing
board to the board room to the factory floor. In fact, the garment may have
been dreamed up as long as a year ago. People who work in product development
decide which styles and colors to pursue, even before they may be in fashion.
Let's look at some of the most typical jobs.
Trend
Analysis: What will everyone are wearing next year? Styles, colors and
patterns are determined months in advance by the trend analyzer. This person
researches the latest textile trends, and determines the overall look of
garments that will be produced by a company during a season. A trend analyzer
needs excellent fashion sense and a good deal of experience, most often as a
designer.
Product
Development Manager: This person takes garments from the
drawing board to the consumer. The product development manager oversees the
entire process, and manages the other people involved in product development.
He or she is in charge of a company's product lines, and meets the needs of
retailers. A product development manager must have a great deal of experience,
know every aspect of the development process, and have strong leadership
abilities.
Technical
Designer: The technical designer translates the vision of the designer
into reality. It's their job to make sure a particular garment can actually be
manufactured efficiently and within budget. A technical designer helps develop
the prototype that subsequent garments are based upon. They must have
creativity, excellent color and fashion sense, strong communication skills, and
be knowledgeable about computers.
Pattern
Maker: A pattern maker works closely with the designer to create
master patterns for the desired design. In effect, a pattern maker must
translate the designer's sketch into the real world. Pattern makers must have
good visualization skills, and be familiar with fabric and body construction.
Experience is usually gained as an assistant to a pattern maker.
Cost
Analyst: The cost analyst determines how much it will cost to produce
a given item. They must factor in several variables, including the price of
material and how much the item will cost to produce. Cost analysts must be good
at mathematics. The job often involves travel. Depending on the company, cost
analysts may be actual engineers, or the duties may be performed by another
employee, such as the designer.
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