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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,the demand for costume designers is projected to grow at 3% over the next 10 years as compared to other professions.
22% are Self- Employed Costume Designers while Management of Companies & Enterprises employ 13% and 29% of them are involved with Apparel, Piece goods and notion merchant wholesalers.
Costume designers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level. Designers who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Costume Designers in India are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 15 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 9% granted to employees every 16 months.
National Institute of Fashion Technology-Navi Mumbai, National Institute of Design-Ahmedabad, Vogue Institute or Art and Design-Bangalore etc are some of the institute’s offering Bachelors, Postgraduate and Diploma programs in Apparel, Costume or Fashion design.
- How to become a Costume Designer Quick Facts
- What does a Costume Designer do
- Steps to follow to become a Costume Designer
- Types of Costume Designer
- How to become a Costume Designer in India
- How to become a Costume Designer after 12th
- Courses to become a Costume Designer
7.1 BSc in Costume Design & Fashion
7.2 Diploma in Apparel & Textile Design
8.1 UK
8.2 USA
8.3 Canada
8.4 Australia
- Benefits of Career as a Costume Designer
- Skills required to become a Costume Designer
- How to become a Costume Designer Salary
11.1 City Wise
11.2 Gender Wise
11.3 Experience Wise
11.4 Industry Wise
Quick Facts for How To Become A Costume Designer?
| Industry | Fashion |
| Eligibility | Bachelor's Degree or a Master's Degree in , Costume, Fashion Design or Apparel. Students with diploma in relevant field as also eligible to apply |
| Average Course Fee | INR 1,50,000 to INR 3,50,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3.0 to INR 4.5 LPA |
| Employment Sectors | Fashion Houses, Production Houses, Studios, Jewellery Houses |
What does a Costume Designer do?
Costume designing can be a glamorous path, with exposure to the glamour world along with lucrative compensation but with fierce competition.The Indian Fashion Industry is changing and growing at a rapid pace with the role a costume designer playing a dominant role as evident from India Fashion Week, Lakme Fashion Week etc gaining prominence in multiple cities of India and abroad.
- A creative mind, the ability to cope up with the latest fashion trends and long hours of work can bring a rewarding career in this field with salary being not a constraint for the right candidate.
- The primary responsibility of a costume designer is creativity in designing clothings, accessories etc. This skill pays reward in the long run as these individuals can start their own business, apply new ideas, and design artwork as per their choice.
- A career in costume designing is dynamic and inviting applicants having an inclination of creative something innovative, individuals having a proper eye for fashion and with a creative mind find this career as fun and satisfying.It is always fun to create something unique which has never been created by somebody else.
Step to Follow to Become a Costume Designer
Production houses or fashion houses look for candidates having formal education in fashion, apparel or costume design. The following states a generalised step by step guide to become a Costume Designer.
Decision Making
Before opting for Costume designing as a career option, it is essential to do some groundwork.Extensive research is to be done to choose relevant subjects to study at 12th, bachelors and masters level. This should be coupled with the possibility of job prospects in various sectors along with pay scale availability.
Though costume designing as a career option is off the track as compared to other conventional career option, but exposure to the glamour industry, gaining acceptance among notable personalities and among the public along with a lucrative compensation package invites many young fellows in this profession. A well informed decision along with passion for creative work helps excel in this industry.
Subject Choices
Though no formal education is required for pursuing a career in costume designing, a bachelor's degree or master's degree or at least a diploma in apparel, costume or fashion designing is recommended.
Individuals can be from any stream at class 12th but students from science stream are given preference as these individuals have better observational skills and critical thinking capability compared to the commerce or arts individuals.
A candidate can pursue a bachelor's degree in costume, apparel or fashion design. Diploma in Apparel, Costume or Fashion Design can also be pursued for a costume designer career. Many Indian and foreign universities offer postgraduate courses in apparel and fashion designing.
Entrance Examination Preparation
Entrance examination scores are required for admission into most of bachelors program in design.Most of the popular design institutes namely NIFT,Army Institute of Fashion Design, (Footwear Design and Development Institute) look for scores of entrance examinations like AIEED (All India Entrance Exam for Design), NIFT Entrance Exam, NID Entrance Exam for admission into bachelors program.Thus it is advisable to start preparing for such competitive examinations right after class 12th since every year lakhs of students appear for such entrances and limited seats are available in top colleges.
The foremost important thing to be taken care of before preparing for such examination is getting oneself acquainted with the syllabus and exam pattern. Many coaching institutes offer extensive training and conduct mock tests for making students well prepared for such examination.
Selecting Correct Colleges
Most premier design institutes offer varied courses in costume or fashion designing.Selecting the right college for pursuing such courses require extensive research on ranking of the college, placement opportunity, faculty strength and quality, internships and training.
Successful students in the entrance examinations who have high scores must aim for the premier institutes along with government colleges where placements are assured, faculties are academically qualified and have relevant experience of teaching in this field along with the right college infrastructure.
Students also aim for institutes where internships are offered with fashion brands, retail outlets etc. for gaining industry exposure.Some institutes have tie up with many national and international fashion brands where students gain industry expertise.
After Qualifying Exam
As admission in most of the premier institutes requires a score of common entrance examination or individual examination conducted by individual institutes, it is mandatory to qualify in such examinations. In addition to that, individuals must also satisfy college cut off to qualify for the next round.
Some colleges also conduct group discussion and personal interview as part of elimination round.Many coaching institutes offer specialized courses on group discussion and interview preparation. Successful candidates may register in such training courses and make themselves interview ready.
It is advisable to all successful candidates to keep a regular eye on the various institutes website for publishing cut off marks for admission and any other admission related information.
Types of Costume Designer
Costume designers are not only involved in envisioning and creating outfits worn in movies, TV shows, fashion shows but also involved in designing accessories and shoes.The various roles played by a costume designer are listed as follows.
Accessory Designer
As the name implies, an accessory enhances the beauty of a costume and thus the primary job of an accessory designer is to conceptualize, design and create a range of products like jewellery pieces, handbags, accessories, footwear etc to enhance the look and feel of fashion costumes and images.
The leather jacket over that sleeveless top completes the overall beauty of that dress, or that scarf over that round necked top makes one feel elegant yet stylish and there lies the real skill of an accessory designer who adds the last minute touch to a fashion apparel .
The Average starting salary of an accessory designer is INR 4.5 LPA.
Jewellery Designer
These professionals are involved in creating elegant intricate pieces of wearable art using varied metal elements.
Average starting salary of an accessory designer is INR 2.0 LPA.
Footwear/Shoe Designer
These professionals design creative fashionable shoes and other footwear which can range from high street fashion shoes to sports shoes, to kids shoes to catwalk shoes to enhance the beauty and elegance of a costume designed exclusively for fashion shows or TV shows etc.
A model with red pencil heels was drawing the spot of last night's fashion show. Just a pair of shoes can create wonders and gain prominence and publicity and there lies the real skill of a footwear designer, who designs shoes, fashion chappals etc to give the extra edge to a costume.
The Average starting salary of an accessory designer is INR 1.5 LPA.
Leather Accessory Designer
Leather accessories add extra elegance and beauty to a costume either in the form of jackets or shoes or belts.Leather accessory designers are solely responsible to design and create such leather products to add the finishing touch to a costume.
The carefully crafted leather jacket speaks so much about the costume, even with minimal makeup accessories with elegant leather jacket draws all the attention.A beautifully crafted leather jacket over a maxi dress not only enhances the beauty of the dress but also make them feel slim and attractive and the whole credit goes to a leather accessory designer who spends sleepless nights designing such accessories to enhance the beauty of a costume.
The Average starting salary of a leather accessory designer is INR 1.8- 2.0 LPA.
Men’s Accessories/ Costume Designer
Men’s fashion statement is incomplete without a stylist headwear or neckwear or bracelets or simply a scarf. And men’s accessories for costume designers deal with designing the right headwear, or bracelet or neckwear for the next men’s fashion week. These professionals always stay updated with the latest fashion trends and implement the same in the form of neckwear or headwear exclusively for men as men are mostly deprived of accessories.
A carefully crafted hat over a short shirt and trouser, makes a man feel young yet a stylist.These professionals spend long hours designing such elegant and stylish accessories for men to give them a smart look and not a feminine look.
The average pay for this role is INR 3 LPA.
Fashion Designer
A fashion designer is engaged in designing not only the apparels for a fashion show, or TV series or movies, they are engaged in conceptualization and design of footwear, jewellery and other accessories to make the concept successful and acceptable to the public. These professionals are always updated on the latest trends in the fashion industry and try to incorporate that through costumes, costume jewellery and other accessories.
Devising new ideas in costumes, jewellery, footwear irrespective of gender, body type, complexion etc is the primary duty of a fashion designer.Fashion designers also need to be tech savvy and update themselves with technology revolution to suit customer demands.
The average pay for this role is INR 5 LPA.
How to Become a Costume Designer in India?
Literally a career in costume designing does not require any formal education but it is always recommended to have either a bachelors or post graduate degree or diploma in apparel, costume or fashion design to excel as a costume designer in India.Many colleges even offer MFA program in fashion merchandising, or fashion design.
A brief description of how to prepare to become a Costume Designer is done below.
School Level Preparation
- At the school level, it is not mandatory to have specific subject combination or stream to pursue career in costume designing
- Though no specific stream is desirable to take up a course in costume designing, still the course is suitable for candidates from Science stream who have an analytical and creative mind and curiosity to explore the unknown.
- Attention to detail, growing analytical skill, good in measurements are the top skills expected in school level preparation
How to Become a Costume Designer after the 12th?
After completing school, willing candidates can pursue a bachelors degree followed by post graduate degree in apparel, costume or fashion designing, Some students go for diploma program in apparel designing which are usually of one year duration. Full-time degree programmes are taught over 3 to 4 years. Elaborated below is how to prepare for a PG and UG course.
UG Preparation
- At the undergraduate level, B.Des in fashion design or B.Sc in costume and fashion design can be pursued.
- Applicants must score at least 50% aggregate score at class 12th level.
- Take a national or institute level entrance test to gain admission in reputed colleges
- Since most entrance exams gauge english, aptitude and general knowledge skill of an applicant, try to improve skill in these domains.
- Study hard during 10+2 and score well as few Indian fashion institutes provide direct admission based on marks in the last qualifying examination
PG Preparation
- For postgraduate courses, a bachelor's degree in the same field is required.
- Degrees offered at PG level are M.Des in Fashion Design, M.A. in Costume Design , M.Sc in Costume Design & Fashion etc
- A minimum aggregate score of 55% is necessary.
- Admissions are mostly based on merit with few institutes offering admission based on performance in the entrance examination conducted by individual institutes.
- Study hard during graduation and score well as few Indian fashion institutes provide direct admission based on marks in the last qualifying examination
- Improve bases in core subjects of fashion designing as these help to excel in this field in the long run.
Courses to Become a Costume Designer
BSc in Costume Design & Fashion
BSc Costume Design and Fashion is an undergraduate programme of 3 years duration divided into 6 semesters each of six months duration. Universities providing this course conduct both merit-based and entrance test based admissions. Some popularly asked for entrance tests are NIFT Entrance exam, NID Entrance exam. Some of the institutes offering this course are National Institute of Design, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Symbiosis Institute of Design etc.
Admission Process
- Follow the exam conducting body’s website regularly for availability of window for application
- When the admission window becomes available, register using a mobile number and email ID.
- Fill the online application form along with uploading essential documents and making payment of application fee.
- Take a national level entrance exam or apply for the institute admission test.
- Register in the institute’s official website for admission in the desired course.
- Create a profile and login to apply.
- Fill up the application form.
- Submit entrance examination scores along with relevant personal and academic documents.
- Make payment of the application fee and submit the application.
- Shortlisted candidates will be candidates for interview and document verification
- Successfully verified candidates would be offered admission
Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants must have a class 12th completion certificate.
- A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC and ST) is required during 10+2 examination
- Candidates must be proficient in English.
- Based on the programme applying to, mandatory required subjects are Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and/or Biology.
How to Apply for the Exam?
- Take note of the notification released for the application window.
- Register on the website.
- Log in and start applying.
- Fill up the application form and upload a passport photograph.
- This should also be accompanied with upload of other academic certificates.
- Pay the application fee and submit.
- Shortlisted candidates are called for document verification and completing formalities for final admission.
How to Prepare for the Exam?
- Follow the current syllabus and paper pattern.
- Improve skills on the weaker sections.
- Download past papers and go for mock examinations.
- Refer relevant books for exam preparation.
- Take mocks and follow time management.
- Practise regularly to improve accuracy and speed.
Diploma in Apparel and Textile Design
Diploma in Apparel and Textile Design is a diploma program of 1 or 2 year duration Institutes providing this course conducts both merit-based and entrance test based admissions. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University ( CSMU) , Navi Mumbai, Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University ( MJRP) , Jaipur, Axis Colleges , Kanpur etc are some of the colleges offering admission to this course based on entrance examination scores namely BHU UET, SOFT CET, MET etc.
Admission Process
Admissions in Diploma courses are also done through both merit and entrance exams.
Direct Admission
- Candidates who are willing to get admission in this stream can apply to Diploma in Textile Design colleges by both offline and online means.
- One can either reach the official website or reach the office of the institute to fill the admission application form.
Entrance Exam Based Admission
Few of the entrance exams are listed below:
- BHU UET: It is a CBT (Computer Based Test) entrance exam conducted at the university level exam. Candidates who have passed their higher secondary examination are eligible to appear for BHU UET 2023. The candidates should have scored a minimum of 50% in commerce / maths / Textile Design / economics / finance / financial markets management / vocational courses. The age limit is 23 Years.
- SOFT CET: It is conducted by the School of Fashion Technology. Eligibility criteria set by the 50- 60% Aggregate in 10+2 Examination from any recognised board.
- MET: It is conducted by Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Eligibility criteria set by the university/ college.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must have a science stream in 10+2 .
- A minimum aggregate score of 55% in 10+2 from a recognized board
- Admission is based on performance in the national level entrance examination or purely based on merit.
How to Apply?
- Take a national level entrance exam or apply for the institute admission test.
- Register in the institute’s official website for admission in the desired course.
- Create a profile and login to apply.
- Fill up the application form.
- Submit entrance examination scores along with relevant personal and academic documents.
- Make payment of the application fee and submit the application.
- Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview and document verification
- Successfully verified candidates would be required to complete formalities like submission of other necessary documents and admission fee to reserve a seat for the particular course.
How to Prepare for the Exam
- Follow the current syllabus and paper pattern.
- Improve skills on the weaker sections
- Download previous year question papers and regularly appear for mock examinations.
- Refer relevant books for exam preparation.
- Follow a strict schedule for individual section preparation
- Keep revising at regular intervals.
MDes in Fashion Design
Master of design or M.Des is a postgraduate course of 2 years duration divided into 4 semesters and is suitable for candidates having an artistic inclination.Admission in top colleges is offered based on scores of national level entrance examination. UPES DAT and NIFT Situation Test , CEED are few of the popular entrance examinations for admission into this course.
Admission Process
Admission is based on performance in entrance examinations.
- To get admission in top colleges, it is recommended to score a minimum of 55% aggregate marks in graduation
- Take note of the notification released for the application window of entrance examinations.
- Register on the website.
- Log in and start applying.
- Fill up the application form and upload a passport photograph along with relevant educational and personal documents.
- Pay the application fee and submit.
- List of shortlisted candidates would be made available in the institute’s website
- Shortlisted candidates would be called for personal interview and document verification
- Successfully verified candidates would be called to complete admission formalities
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in design or architecture or interior design from a recognized university .
- A minimum aggregate score of 50% aggregate marks in graduation
- Admission are based on performance in national level entrance examination
- Most institutes conduct group discussion or personal interview for final selection.
How to Apply?
- Take a national level entrance exam namely NIFT, IICD,UPES DAT.
- Successful candidates must register in the institute of choice for admission through the institute's official website.
- Create a profile and login to apply.
- Fill up the application form.
- Submit entrance examination score along with relevant personal and academic documents.
- Make payment of application fee and submit the application.
- Shortlisted candidates will be called for the interview process.
- Candidates qualifying in the interview would be called for document verification.
- Successfully verified candidates would be offered admission.
How to Prepare for the Exam?
- Follow the current syllabus and paper pattern.
- Download past question papers and mock examinations.
- Prepare a time table and strictly adhere to the routine.
- Refer relevant books and study materials for exam preparation.
- Keep practising and revising at regular intervals.
How to Become a Costume Designer Abroad?
UK
To start a career in costume designing in the United Kingdom, individuals need an HND, degree or postgraduate qualification in relevant discipline namely costume design, fashion, theatre design or performing arts.
Some of the most popular courses on costume designing are Fashion Design BA (Hons), MA Fashion, Fashion Marketing (With Professional Experience) MA etc.
- The duration of the courses ranges from 3 years to 1 year.
- Applications are to be submitted online.
- The average course fee is between INR 15 to INR 20.0 lakhs.
Admission Process
- Admissions for undergraduate programs are done through UCAS portal while admission for master degree courses is done through the university website.
- Willing candidates must create a profile in respective website for application process
- Fill the application form with relevant details along with uploading of relevant documents in the website
- Most UK universities prefer TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English Assessment Test as yardstick for English proficiency test for final admission.
- Universities also give weightage to candidates having letter of recommendation and work experience for admission
- Make necessary payment of application fee and proceed for final submission of application form.
- Shortlisted candidates are called either through phone or email for group discussion and personal interview.
- Successful candidates in the previous round are called for final admission.
Top Colleges
| University Name | Course Name | Programme Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds Beckett University | Fashion BA (Hons) | INR 10,82,457 |
| University of South Wales | Fashion Business and Marketing BA (Hons) | INR 13,60,803 |
| University of Portsmouth | Fashion Marketing (With Professional Experience) MA | INR 15,97,912 |
| University of Salford | BA Hons Costume Design | INR 16,06,800 |
| London College of Fashion | MA Costume Design | INR 23,60,760 |
| University of Southampton | Fashion Management (MA) | INR 20,18,524 |
| Falmouth University | Textile Design BA (Hons) | INR 16,49,458 |
| Ulster University | Textile Art, Design and Fashion BA (Hons) | INR 15,37,088 |
| University of Dundee | Textile Design BDes (Hons) | INR 18,71,103 |
| University of Leeds | Textile Sustainability and Innovation MSc | INR 25,51,505 |
USA
In the USA, both undergraduate and postgraduate programs are available on costume design or fashion and textile management.
- Most US universities prefer TOEFL score as a standard for English proficiency test for International candidates
- Duration of a bachelors course is usually 3 years while masters courses are of 2 years duration.
- Few universities offer PhD in Apparel, Merchandising Design with duration being 4 years with course fee around INR 22.0 lakhs.
- The course fee is between INR 15.0 to INR 35.0 lakhs.
Admission Process
- For admission into undergraduate programs, candidates must apply through the Common Application portal while for admission into masters courses, candidates must apply through university websites as per choice.
- Create a profile in the website and log in for application process
- Fill the application form with relevant details along with scores of English proficiency test scores like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, GMAT, GRE etc.
- This should be accompanied by a letter of recommendation and work experience if any along with uploading of supporting documents.
- Final submission of application form is done by paying requisite application fee.
- Shortlisted candidates are called either through phone or email for group discussion and personal interview.
- Successful candidates in the previous round are called for final admission.
Top Colleges
| University Name | Course Name | Programme Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Merchandising | INR 18,94,698 |
| Michigan State University | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Apparel and Textile Design | INR 30,11,841 |
| Syracuse University | Fashion Design, BFA | INR 39,54,818 |
| Virginia Tech | Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Design | INR 22,49,371 |
| Iowa State University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design | INR 20,01,967 |
| University of North Texas | Design M.F.A. with a concentration in Fashion Design | INR 11,65,094 |
| University of Cincinnati | Bachelor of Science in Design - Fashion Design | INR 21,11,277 |
| Cornell University | Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Management | INR 42,90,000 |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | BFA in Fashion Design | INR 15,20,000 |
| Globe Institute Of Technology | Associates in Applied Science in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing Management | INR 10,00,000 |
Canada
- Canadian universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in clothing design or exhibit design, theatre design
- The duration of the courses span from 3 years to 2 years for the full-time degree programme.
- Preference is given to candidates having prior work experience of working in art school program in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design
- Candidates must be conversant with working with CAD design software.
- Admission is done through the university websites.
- International students must be fluent in either English or French.
Admission Process
- Both for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, candidates must apply through the official website of the institute.
- Create a profile and log in to start the application process
- Fill the application with relevant details along with scores of English proficiency tests namely IELTS, TOEFL , PTE etc. Test d'Évaluation de Français, Test de Connaissance du Français, Test de français are few of the French accepted tests.
- This should be accompanied with uploading of relevant personal and educational documents
- Make final submission of application by making payment of application fee.
- Candidates desirous of availing scholarship must submit financial proof.
- Shortlisted candidates are called either through phone or email for group discussion and personal interview,
- Successful candidates in the previous round are called for final admission.
Top Colleges
| University Name | Course Name | Programme Fees |
|---|---|---|
| George Brown College | Fashion Techniques and Design Program | INR 8,65,286 |
| Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Technology | INR 12,88,509 |
| Centennial College | Diploma in Fashion Business and Management | INR 9,98,248 |
| St. Clair College | Diploma in Fashion Design Technician | INR 8,23,682 |
| University of Alberta | Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology in Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture | INR 17,81,293 |
| Selkirk College | Textiles Studio Certificate | INR 8,30,626 |
| NSCAD University | Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Textiles / Fashion | INR 11,91,956 |
| Humber College | Bachelor of Commerce - Fashion Management (Honours Degree) | INR 11,41,839 |
| Dalhousie University | Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Theatre (Costume Studies) | INR 5,67,900 |
| Capilano University | Costuming for Stage and Screen Diploma | INR 16,86,190 |
Australia
Australia offers a bachelors program along with vocational training in fashion design namely Certificate III in Design Fundamentals or Certificate III in Clothing and Textile Production.
- International applicants must submit one English fluency test score. Accepted tests are IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, PTE Academic, OET etc.
- Though big production houses or textile factories look for candidates having prior work experience of working under senior designer or creative director, it is recommended to complete a masters program in fashion viz. Master of Fashion (Entrepreneurship).
- The average course fee ranges between INR 12.0 to INR 25.0 lakhs.
Admission Process
- For admission into undergraduate , post graduate or diploma courses, it is mandatory to register on the official website of the institute of choice.
- Register using an active email id and phone number.
- Log in and start applying. Fill up the application form.
- Upload personal and educational documents in the portal along with scores of English proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, PTE Academic, OET etc.
- This should be accompanied by a letter of recommendation and work experience if any.
- Final application form submission is done by making payment of requisite application fee.
- Shortlisted candidates are called either through phone or email for group discussion and personal interview,
- Successful candidates in the previous round are called for final admission.
Top Colleges
| University Name | Course Name | Programme Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Curtin University | Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) | INR 16,32,813 |
| TAFE NSW | Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising (Design and Product Development) | INR 17,39,791 |
| Queensland University of Technology (QUT) | Dual degree - Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Design (Fashion) | INR 18,24,246 |
| RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University) | Master of Design (Fashion and Textiles) | INR 17,83,708 |
| Torrens University Australia | Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Branded Fashion Design | INR 14,35,749 |
| Flinders University | Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design) (VET Pathway) | INR 17,17,269 |
| Canberra Institute of Technology | Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Merchandising | INR 8,16,407 |
| LCI Melbourne | Bachelor of Design Arts (Fashion and Costume Design) | INR 25,19,262 |
| LCI Melbourne | Bachelor of Design | INR 25,30,000 |
| University of New South Wales | Bachelor of Design | INR 21,00,000 |
Benefits of Career as a Costume Designer
The world of Costume Designing is dynamic and demanding, requiring hard work and a passion for creativity. The initial years of struggle can turn into a lucrative career in the long run.Some of such benefits are as follows.
Salary
Compared to the hard work, dedication, long hours of work and ever changing demand of clients can be intimidating in the initial phase of the career with meagre salary package but years of experience in this field can bring reputation and lucrative income with the salary of a mid level career experienced individual may earn upto INR 15,00,000 with sky being the limit for seasoned professionals who can put a lasting impression in the minds of public.
Job Satisfaction
It always brings peace of mind when a Costume Designer finds his work is in the latest trend with celebrities, models and even common people.It brings ultimate job satisfaction when candidates find other celebrities wearing their creation and giving them compliments.The ultimate satisfaction when people from the same community enquire about that secret which they can apply to make themself stand out in the crowd is incomparable.
Starting one’s Own Business
Most fashion designers who have a zeal to create something new and unique and to work independently, start their own business may be in the form of a small shop or a boutique and create new fashion statements in the form of apparel or jewellery or may be in the form of shoes. This may start with a small shop selling unique clothing or accessories, this may turn into a big business with hard work and dedication.
Fun and Creative
The satisfaction of creating something new, elegant and draws public attention is beyond the ambit of money but the inspiration for the next creation.Creation can be in the form of apparel or shoes or jewellery or that new colour or shape given to an existing dress material or jewellery can have a lasting impression in the mind of the buyer.
Travelling
Since clients in the fashion industry can reside in any corner of the world, there is a lot of scope to travel to various places of the world to meet prospective clients and know their requirements. In addition, those having their independent business in costume designing, can open their boutiques or shops at various places of the world to enhance their business.
Variety in Work Place
In the fashion industry every project is different and unique compared to others which requires a lot of creativity and ability to come up with new ideas leading to new designs as end product. Fashion trends are always dynamic and these change primarily due to the ever changing demands of the customers and thus the life of a costume designer can never be dull and boring, they are always involved in devising new fashion signatures to satisfy the clients need.
Meeting New and Different People
The primary job of a Costume Designer is to meet prospective clients from different locations of the world who have varied tastes and requirement.Exposure to such clients give more opportunity for exposure to different people, know their needs and create a form of art as per their choice. This helps in the long run to excel as a successful fashion designer in the showbiz world. A skilled costume designer must have the right eye and perseverance to gauge the client requirement and deliver the final product accordingly.
Skills Required to Become a Costume Designer
The primary skill of a costume designer is a creative mind and an acumen to design and create different forms of art in the form of costume, apparel and accessories.Costume Designers must have skills to stand out in the market and attract more clients.
The table lists skills employers look for in budding Costume Designers.
| Creativity | Sketching/ Drawing Skills |
| Attention to Detail | Sound Communication Skills |
| Negotiation Skill | Good listener |
| Visualisation | Time management |
Salary of Costume Designer in India
Salaries of Costume Designers can range from INR 3.5 to INR 20 LPA. This variance in salary is guided by many factors like job profile, years of work experience, city, gender etc. All salaries have been tabulated below.
City Wise
| Cities | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 3,50,000-4,00,000 |
| Mumbai | 3,00,000-3,50,000 |
| Bangalore | 4,20,000-4,75,000 |
Gender Wise Salary
| Gender | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Male | 2,50,000-3,00,000 |
| Female | 4,00,000-4,50,000 |
Experience Wise
| Experience | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | 3,00,000-4,00,000 |
| Mid Level | 4,00,000-7,00,000 |
| Senior Level | 7,00,00-20,00,000 |
Industry Wise
| Industry Type | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Motion picture and video industries | 9,60,000-10,00,000 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9,40,000-9,75,000 |
| Apparel manufacturing | 9,00,000-9,50,000 |
| Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers | 8,76,000-9,00,000 |
How to become a Costume Designer: FAQs
Ques. Name a few of the must read books for pursuing a career in costume designing?
Ans. Some of the must read books for a promising career in costume designing are listed below:
- Costume Designing by Parul Gupta
- The Costume Designer's Handbook: A Complete Guide for Amateur and Professional Costume Designers by Rosemary Ingham
- Costume Design: Techniques of Modern Masters by Lynn Pecktal
- The Costume Technician’s Handbook: A Complete Guide for Amateur and Professional
- After a Fashion: How to Reproduce, Restore, and Wear Vintage Styles by Frances Grimble
- Elegantly Frugal Costumes by Shirley Dearing
- The Art Of Costume Design by Athaiya Bhanu Rajopadhye
Ques. What are the primary responsibilities of a Costume Designer?
Ans. Few of the responsibilities a costume designer usable handle are listed below:
- Study the latest fashion trends and make predictions for upcoming trends.
- Conceptualize, design and create the end product in the form of apparel and accessories.
- Understand the requirement of clients and deliver the final end product as per requirement.
- Assemble ideas through sketches, photographs or rough designs.
Ques. Name some top institutes in India offering B.Des in Fashion Design?
Ans. Some of the top institutes in India offering B.Des in Fashion Design are listed below:
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi
- National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru
- Indian Institute of Art and Design, New Delhi
- Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
- NIMS University, Jaipur
Ques. Name some of the common subjects covered in the Master of Design course?
Ans. Some of the common subjects covered in Master of Design course are listed below:
- Sustainable systems and craft studies
- Trend research & forecasting
- Introduction to social design
- Strategy design management
- Design research methods
- Brand positioning and Curatorial practices
- Design philosophy & critique
Ques. Discuss NIFT entrance exam pattern for admission into BDes program?
Ans. National Institute of Fashion Technology conducts national level entrance examination for admission into BDes program. The NIFT entrance exam is an offline examination of 120 minutes duration consisting of 100 questions offered in MCQ pattern in English/ Hindi language as per choice of candidate. The exam consists of 5 sections namely Quantitative Ability, Communication Ability, English Comprehension, Analytical Ability, General Knowledge and Current Affairs.
Ques. Name some top recruiting companies in the costume or fashion designing industry?
Ans. Some of the prominent employers in the costume or fashion designing industry recruiting students from National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi or Symbiosis Institute of Design or Amity School of Fashion Technology are Artex Apparels, Alius Design, Aura Jewels, AK Studio.
Ques. Who is an Apparel Quality Manager?
Ans. These are professionals involved in managing the overall apparel quality of a company along with supervision of the same. Average annual salary of an apparel quality manager is INR 5 lakhs per annum.
Ques. What are the various job profiles available after completing BDes in Fashion Design?
Ans. After completion of BDes Fashion Design, students get exposure to work in a variety of job roles as listed below:
- Fashion Designer
- Design Manager
- Fashion Analyst
- Fashion Stylist
- Graphic Designer
- Apparel Quality Manager
- Pattern Designer
Ques. Is it mandatory to have mathematics as a compulsory subject in 10+2 for pursuing courses in costume designing?
Ans. Absolutely not. For pursuing courses in costume designing, an analytical mind with attention to detail is sufficient to undergo such a course and during the tenure of most of the courses, students get introduced to the technicalities of drawing and computer aided design programs.
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility criteria for admission into Diploma in Costume Design and Dress Making and suggest few Indian colleges offering such courses?
Ans. Diploma in Costume Design and Dress Making is diploma program in Fashion Designing with a course duration of three years, suitable for candidates who have completed 10+2 from a recognized board or council and has sharp observation skill along with sensitivity to changing trends.
Few of the colleges in India offering such course are:
- Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University, Bhilai
- CU Shah Polytechnic, Surendaranagar
- Jowai Polytechnic, Jaintia Hills
Ques. What are the usual perks available in a costume design career apart from a lucrative salary?
Ans. Besides drawing a handsome salary, costume designers avail other perks namely health benefits, sick leave and paid vacations. From mid level to senior level designers, top fashion brands and prospective clients bear the cost of travel for visiting clients overseas. Apart from these usual benefits, textile companies offer expensive gifts to designers for endorsing their product both in the domestic and international market.
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