What is the role of a stylist? What is the role of a pattern maker? Discover the differences between these two professions and the roles of these two fashion experts.

Creating a clothing collection or wanting to be the driving force behind a textile project requires many skills. Knowing the technical terms used in the fashion industry, choosing the right fabrics for creating the pieces, contacting the right partners to bring your ideas to life... All these steps require the involvement of a fashion designer freelance or full-time. But is there really a difference between these two fashion careers? Do you need a pattern maker to create the clothing designs? A fashion designer to choose materials and colors? 

Discover the various nuances of fashion design and the real difference between a fashion designer and one pattern maker.

The profession of fashion designer is part of the field of applied arts (design). A person who works as a fashion designer The role of a designer is to design a garment or an entire collection by selecting fabrics, shapes, materials, and textures. She must think about the model as a whole and create a real starting plan that meets the client's aspirations and reflects the’Brand DNA. 

Her work therefore begins with an analysis of the brand and a benchmark to identify the season's key trends. Following this research, the expert is ready to tell a story through her design.

This job therefore requires technical and analytical skills. To conceptualize a product, the fashion designer must be familiar with the processes of assembly, printing on textiles, finishing, sewing, as well as the technical aspects of fabrics. 

In order to bring its ideas to fruition, the fashion designer draws the imagined designs in a technical manner. This often involves a computer-generated drawing of the garment, detailing each element. This drawing forms the basis of any collection. It will be used to create the model's technical data sheet, which is then sent to the pattern maker. 

This profession has a prominent place within a fashion house. But to get in, you need to gain as much experience as possible in order to be recognized in the industry. Designers work within design offices or from trends. They can also work as freelancers.

These two fashion professions are highly complementary. 

The stylist oversees the creation and design of a garment. She chooses the colors, textile patterns, fabrics, and style of the model, which she presents in the form of sketches. 

The pattern maker creates the pattern for the garment based on the designer's sketch. She can also create prototypes and take care of various elements that are essential for the collection to go into production. 

In order to become fashion designer or pattern maker, the training courses taken may vary slightly. 

A future fashion designer can pursue specialized training after obtaining a vocational baccalaureate in fashion and clothing. Bachelor's or master's degree programs specializing in arts and design are ideal.

A future fashion designer will start with a CAP-level training course in fashion design, followed by a BTS or a specialized certification in fashion. 

It is possible for a fashion designer or a pattern maker become a fashion designer by enrolling in a fashion school that offers high-quality training programs to acquire all the necessary techniques. For example, the ISAL PARIS Fashion Design & Business School offers unique training programs that provide access to these professions. The Bachelor of Fashion Creation and Design is, for example, very comprehensive in terms of bringing this professional project to fruition.

The stylist should be contacted very early on, as she is at the beginning of the creative process. As soon as the client has an idea of the desired product and its target audience, they should contact this professional. Some designers specialize in brand creation. In addition to designing a collection, they help define the brand universe (values, identity, product offering, corporate mission).

The pattern maker needs to work with the technical specifications of the fashion designer to be able to imagine the desired product. Therefore, certain elements must be ready before proceeding with the model making. 

It is essential to call upon a fashion designer, then to a pattern maker, capable of working together to bring your ideas to life. 

If you too are ready to explore the world of fashion and textiles, it is important to pursue specialized training in model making and fashion design. ISAL PARIS is open to all students who want to succeed in the fashion and luxury industry.