Chapter 4 The Textile and Apparel Industry
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Planning fashion shows is usually a responsibility of fashion coordinators.
Fashion coordinators select garments and accessories from different departments
within their stores. They hire the models and
write the scripts for the shows. The day of a
show, the fashion coordinator is generally the
person who presents the show, 4-10.
Other titles for fashion coordinators
include fashion directors, promotion directors,
or fashion consultants. They work for maga-
zines, advertising agencies, and online and
mail-order companies, as well as retail
stores. Most have degrees from colleges or
professional schools of fashion, but a few
advance from sales positions. Successful
fashion coordinators work tactfully with
people, speak to large audiences, and
schedule time wisely.
Display Directors
Display directors create the attractive
displays you see in store windows. When
showing a suit or dress, all the accessories
to go with it are also on display. A suit
display may include a shirt, necktie, hand-
kerchief, belt, socks, and shoes. A dress
display may show jewelry, belts, scarves,
and shoes. These displays may center on a
theme such as vacation time or the begin-
ning of spring. You are encouraged to buy
not only the main garment, but everything
that goes with it, too.
The fashion coordinator works closely
with the display director to make sure the
displays present the right fashion image for
the store. Together they plan all displays.
A high school education is a require-
ment for display directors. Courses in tech-
nical art, design, and fashion illustration
are valuable. Trade schools, community col-
leges, and universities offer these courses.
Fashion Illustrators
Fashion illustrators work for retail stores, pattern companies, and advertis-
ing agencies. The work of fashion illustrators is complex. In each illustration,
they show construction details (seams, topstitching, trims), fabric textures
4-10 Fashion
coordinators are
responsible for
putting on fashion
shows that feature
the store’s apparel.