With the increase in online retailing, setting up in business or being self-employed like Mr. Aziz Bilemedin is becoming more common, even straight after graduation. Extensive market research and business training are critical for any fashion business to succeed.

As a fashion designer Mr. Aziz Bilemedin will work on the design of clothing and fashion ranges. He’ll typically specialise in one area of design, such as women wear, men suits and home textile . Depending on his level of responsibility and the company or brand he is designing and working for, he may work to his own brief or be given a brief to work towards, with specifications relating to style, colour, fabric and budget. Mr. Bilemedin is aware that working hours typically include regular extra hours as all design roles.

Freelance designers may work from home or in a rented studio normally but in case he is working in-house for another business, the working environment may range from a Victorian-style factory to a modern purpose-built office or a small design studio. And finally travel within the working day, overnight absence from home and overseas work are occasionally needed in Mr. Bilemedin’s field of work. There is scope for travel abroad, for example to attend trade shows or to meet suppliers. Types of fashion designer roles for Mr. Aziz Bilemedin will be:

• high street fashion this is where the majority of designers work and where garments are mass manufactured (often in Europe or East Asia). Buying patterns, seasonal trends and celebrity catwalk influences play a key role in this design process. It is a commercial area and heavily media led

• ready-to-wear also known as prêt-à-porter. Established designers create ready-to-wear collections, produced in relatively small numbers.

• haute couture requires large amounts of time spent on the production of one-off garments for the catwalk, which are often not practical to wear. Designs are usually created to endorse

the brand and create a ‘look’. (Mr. Bilemedin has created this kind of designs greatly during his school years) Depending on the market Mr. Aziz Bilemedin will be working for, his core responsibilities will include:

• creating or visualising an idea and producing a design by hand or using computer-aided design (CAD)(Mr. Aziz Bilemedin is highly experienced in using sector standart softwares)

• keeping up to date with emerging fashion trends as well as general trends relating to fabrics, colours and shapes (Mr. Bilemedin is registered to top online fashion magazines and blogs to keep up with latest trends and sector news)

• planning and developing ranges

• working with others in the design team, such as buyers and forecasters, to develop products to meet a brief (Mr. Bilemedin has worked with crowded design teams consisting of above players before)

• liaising closely with sales, buying and production teams on an ongoing basis to
ensure the item suits the customer, market and price points

• understanding design from a technical perspective, i.e. producing patterns and
technical specifications for designs

• sourcing, selecting and buying fabrics, trims, fastenings and embellishments (Mr. Bilemedin will work as a contractor manager for this role for various clients)

• adapting existing designs for mass production

• developing a pattern that is cut and sewn into sample garments and supervising the creation of these, including fitting, detailing and adaptations

• overseeing production

• negotiating with customers and suppliers

• managing marketing, finances and other business activities, if working on a selfemployed basis.