What skills does it take to be a fashion designer?

Fashion designing requires a lot of skills that need to be constantly practiced until perfected. For one, every fashion designer needs a good eye for shape, textures and colors. It is a huge deal when designing clothes to be able to match colors and patterns, otherwise the piece looks like a disaster. Second, one is expected to have a wide understanding of the characteristics of fabrics and how they can and cannot be used. Pattern cutting and sewing are also a large part in the production of clothing garments. A successful fashion designer has an advanced ability to develop and spot trends too! In teens and young adults, an array of trends are developed and expressed through individuals, and those need to be identified. For designing, drawing skills and the ability to understand how to use computer design packages are very important because the proportions of the model body are key to being able to design clothing correctly, whether on paper or on a computer. As a fashion designer, one will encounter excessive amounts of problems and "bumps in the road", which is why skills in problem solving are beneficial. Lastly, the ability to work as a part of a team is an essential skill. Cooperation with other business partners, models, companies, and groups allows events and processes to become easier and get done quicker. Communication is key, especially as a fashion designer because the fashion industry is a constant busy business.