Hats and bandanas are a great fashion statement but how would that segment of the garment industry be to work for? Well, in a word which you should keep under your hat by the way, GREAT! Accessories are an omnipresent part of fashion. The presence of these is ubiquitous and timeless. Fortunately, that makes these ancillary jobs of the rag business pretty much inflation proof.

Hat making was once known as millinery and haberdashery and has always had a strong market share. From wool felt cowboy hats to acrylic knit winter hat sets there is high demand for these or other styles and fabrics in every part of the globe. Hot weather requires the shade of straw knits and cold weather needs the combat of body heat retaining caps.

All parts of the world and all times in history have made the hat and the bandana viable economic paths for a lot of job applicants. Today in the American garment industry there are a variety of career paths for those interested in hats. There are jobs in design, product development, and manufacturing and of course in buying and retailing.

What Companies are Out There?

The fashion world has such a large market that there are plenty of companies out there to apply too.  Following are some of the retailers that are most recently seeking eager designers and fashionistas:

Companies:

Panama Jack Co. Orlando, Fl. www.panamajack.com
1 (800) 932-2431

Inspired by a more tropical style Panama Jack is a clothing and accessory company that designs styles to help you escape the everyday. 

Limited Brands Co.  Ohio and New York www.limitedbrands.com
1 (614) 415-7000

This conglomerate corporation mainly based in Ohio is responsible for such popular brands as Bath & Body Works, The Limited Stores and Victoria’s Secret. 

FOSSIL, Inc.  Richardson, TX. www.fossil.com
1 (800) 449-3056

A little vintage style is all this Texas based company needs to create a great look.  FOSSIL is more recently founded in 1984, but they are growing rapidly and look out, they take design and idea submissions!

Urban Outfitters, Inc. Philadelphia, PA. www.urbanoutfittersinc.com
1 (800) 282-2200

Urban Outfitters offers two other brands besides its main retail store with Anthropologie and Free People.  This clothing and accessory manufacturer and retailer focuses on urban concepts and styles in fashion wear.

Franco Manufacturing Company NJ & NY www.francomfg.com
1 (732) 494-0500

This company is responsible for such well-known brands as Eddie Bauer, Bratz, Disney and Paul Frank.  They are a family owned business since 1952 specializing in home textiles and décor.

First decide which area best fits your educational level, training and interests. Once the field is narrowed a general search by keyword on Monster.com will yield the most recent job openings. Many big name retailers like Nordstrom.com or Abercrombie and Fitch or Chico’s are frequently hiring for a plethora of different industry positions. All of these have specific skill needs but check these various lists until the right job appears.

What Kind of Education is Needed?

Most fashion and clothing industry jobs these days require at least a Bachelor’s degree or higher for a really good position.  However, it’s also possible to get your foot in the door with an internship while you go to school or train in house with the company.  Following are a list of degrees and certificates that will help you in your search for the right job:

Degrees for the Fashion Industry:

Fashion Institute of Technology

• Associate of Fashion Design
• Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Fashion Design

An associate degree in fashion design can get you started in the basics of drawing, painting, and other art forms, developing patterns from your ideas and bringing those patterns and styles to life.  You’ll also develop an understanding of proper presentation and submission of your materials to businesses, clients and superiors. 

While the bachelor’s program gives two extra years to develop and specialize your skill set into a specific area of fashion design.  You’ll also focus on developing a portfolio and get a chance to intern at different companies and work with mentors.

     Angelo State University

• Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Printmaking

A degree with a focus in printmaking can be useful for the student interested in developing the patterns on cloth and fabrics used in the fashion industry.  It can also aid you in a career that actually creates such fabrics, especially those developed from inks and dying processes.

Academy of Couture Art

• Associate of Pattern Making
• Bachelor’s of Pattern Design

This small school in Southern California offers a degree specifically for pattern making for the student interested in working alongside fashion designers and artists in the development of new clothing.  You’ll learn how to create patterns from artist sketches and designs using the natural curves and shapes of the human body as well as sewing and fitting garments from these patterns for a complete piece.

In the Bachelor’s program you’ll go further in the understanding of how to interpret design and images to create a balanced look, explain your thoughts on paper and in words with a knowledge of fashion design and the industry, as well as learning the process of designing and selecting appropriate textiles for patterns and learning more about the manufacturing process.

Fontbonne University

• Bachelor’s of Science in Fashion Merchandising

Students in this degree program will develop a deep understanding of the fashion industry with internships and tours of retail and manufacturing settings.  A fashion merchandising degree will prepare you to work in a range of jobs from retail store manager to fashion event coordinator and even market researchers and buyers for companies.

There are universities and programs across the country that offer education in the areas of fashion and retail.  You only need to look around to find the right program for the career you desire.

Fashion Industry Careers:

Speaking of careers in the fashion industry there are hundreds of different jobs in the field ranging from the high profile fashion designer to the cloth examiner working in the factory to ensure a high quality product.  Below you’ll find a list of just a few of the many possible careers you can entertain in fashion:

As you can see the range of careers in the fashion industry varies wildly and you can literally work on any part of the overall outfit from the shoes to the hat on your head.  A great career in fashion starts with excellent research and planning to pick the appropriate degree and present a suitable resume to prospective employers.  Make sure you find the right one!