3422 — Clothing, fashion and accessories designers

What this occupation covers

Clothing, fashion and accessories designers plan, direct and undertake the creation of designs for new clothing and related fashion accessories.

Typical duties

liaises with client to determine the purpose, cost, technical specification and potential uses/users of clothing or related fashion accessory

undertakes research to determine market trends, production requirements, availability of resources and formulates design concepts

prepares sketches, designs, patterns or prototypes for textiles, clothing, footwear, jewellery, fashion accessories

submits design to management, sales department or client for approval, communicates design rationale and makes any necessary alterations

specifies materials, production method and finish for aesthetic or functional effect

oversees production of sample and/or finished product or produces one-off products for fashion shows

observes and manages intellectual property issues

Entry routes and qualifications

Entrants have usually completed a foundation course, BTEC/SQA award, degree and/or postgraduate qualification. Vocational qualifications in Fashion Design and Design are available at level 2 and 3, as are apprenticeships at levels 2 and 3.

Sponsorship information

Medium Skilled. Actual duties, sponsor, applicant, salary and any transitional or shortage-list conditions must be checked.

Temporary Shortage List: Clothing, fashion and accessories designers. Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued before 31 December 2026.

DBS assessment

No code-wide DBS assessment is assigned. Check actual duties, activities, workplace, frequency and jurisdiction. This code does not determine the level of check.

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