From the entry-level assistant designer who assists the design team to the senior designer who oversees the team, textile designer jobs vary in scope and responsibilities. A textile designer, in general, develops original designs into finished products creating factory-ready designs. These designers work on a variety of textiles, including personal clothing, home furnishings, and other fabrics. Lace patterns, embroidery designs, and printed fabric designs may be required of the designer. They frequently work with a variety of synthetic and natural fabrics.
When looking for a job as a textile designer, the job title can be confusing. Often, a company will hire a textile graphic designer or a textile CAD designer. Computer-aided design, or CAD, is a tool that many employers expect textile designers to know how to use. Specialty textile designer jobs, such as colorists or print designers, are frequently available. These jobs, such as graphic designer – colorist, may not have the word textile in their title, but they do involve working with textiles.
There are a variety of ways to qualify for these positions, but the most common is to obtain the necessary education or training. Some textile companies hire entry-level employees and provide an apprenticeship or work-study program. Before hiring job applicants, most employers require some level of education and work experience. The type of textile designer job that an applicant is qualified for is determined their level of education and work experience.
Some textile designers specialize in specific fields, such as children’s clothing. A few areas of textile design, such as children’s sleepwear, are governed stringent government regulations. Others are looking for people who are familiar with the needs of organic or non-allergenic products. Textile designer jobs are becoming more common as people seek environmentally friendly solutions to everyday problems.
Textile designer jobs aren’t just for printed or textured clothing fabrics. It’s possible that the job will entail installing new carpeting, upholstery, and drapery, as well as bed linens. Designers sometimes focus on lacework or knitted fabrics.
In most cases, a textile designer – consultant works in sales. The person usually works in retail sales, but he or she may also sell the product to other companies. A designer with a background in sales is usually required for this wholesale sales position. The consultant who sells the product in-home is a growing career. The consultant delivers product samples to the buyer, who could be a homeowner or a business owner.