Fashion Apprenticeships

What will happen in 2040? Maybe we’ll drive flying cars or live with robots. Or, perhaps leopard print and skinny jeans will be back on trend (again).

Working in the fashion industry gives you the power to define the style of the future. Here’s everything you need to know about the fashion apprenticeships that will let your creativity run wild.

Jobs in fashion

Fashion buyer

Think of a company like ASOS that stocks items from loads of different brands. It’s a fashion buyer’s job to select the right clothing and accessories for your brand and customers and communicate with partners and vendors to purchase the items at the right price.

Fashion merchandiser

Although it’s similar to fashion buying, merchandising involves choosing which items to display in a brick-and-mortar store or eCommerce website. The goal is to select clothes that will appeal to your ideal customer and make sure the physical or digital store is fully stocked.

Model

Models are essential for fashion brands’ marketing strategies. You’ll participate in photo and video shoots and runway shows to show off the client’s clothing and accessories. Being a model isn’t all glitz and glamour – you might work very long days, and you’ll have to keep your physical appearance in tip-top condition all year round.

Designer

Do you have a vision for the future of fashion? Designers choose the right fabrics, colours and styles to create stylish pieces and new trends. Throughout your career, you might specialise in a certain area of design, such as sportswear or footwear, or you can even set up your own line.

Influencer

You probably already know how lucrative and exciting an influencer’s job can be. Influencers promote brands on social media channels like Instagram and TikTok, and their goal is to build a large and engaged following online. Who said you can’t take your future into your own hands?

Tailor

A tailor, sometimes called a dressmaker, specialises in creating clothing from scratch. You might also alter and repair clients’ clothes and arrange fittings, like making sure somebody’s suit fits them perfectly on their wedding day. Tailors are experienced in pretty much every fabric and clothing style, so it’s a really diverse profession. 

Apprenticeships in fashion

Fashion Enter

Fashion Enter is an apprenticeship provider that connects you to top companies (like ASOS) and the Fashion Technology Academy (FTA). Choose from apprenticeships like a Level 3 Garment Maker, a Level 2 Sewing Machinist, a Level 5 Bespoke Tailoring Apprenticeship and more.

ASOS

Everybody knows ASOS. With over 4,000 employees and offices in London and New York, ASOS is one of the biggest names in fashion. ASOS, alongside Fashion Enter and the FTA, provides apprenticeships from Level 1 to Level 5. These include hands-on disciplines such as stitching, machine maintenance, tailoring and pattern making, as well as programmes that incorporate business skills like product development and learning how to be a studio assistant.

Kering

Kering is a group that owns many luxury fashion houses including Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. What’s exciting about Kering is that it has apprenticeship opportunities all over the world – for example, fancy working as a Retail Intern at Gucci in Mumbai? If the answer’s yes, a Kering apprenticeship could be perfect for you.

boohoo group

The boohoo group includes brands like boohooMAN, Debenhams, PrettyLittleThing and Karen Millen. You could work across their thirteen brands in fashion apprenticeships that range from Level 3 to Level 7. For some apprenticeships, the boohoo group will also cover the cost of extra professional qualifications and courses, too.

M&S

M&S has a popular Buying & Merchandising Assistant Apprenticeship in partnership with the Fashion Retail Academy. During the two-year course, you’ll earn £24,000 while working on product development projects, including spotting gaps in the market and speaking with suppliers.

New Look

New Look recruit apprenticeships across the UK, including marketing, design and purchasing departments, as well as work experience placements in buying, PR and design. There isn’t much info online, so drop an email to newlook@peopleplus.co.uk to find out more.

Entry requirements

You’ll need 4 GCSEs at grade 4 and above to qualify, including English and maths, but this may vary depending on the level of apprenticeship that you apply for.

Academia aside, fashion is all about creativity. Nowadays, you have a whole host of creativity-boosting tools at your fingertips, like video and photo editing apps, affordable cameras and social media. Take your future into your own hands at use these accessible tools to build an online portfolio. You could even download an app like Adobe Illustrator to create concept designs and share them online, which will help demonstrate your creativity to potential employers.

Extra tips

Getting into the fashion industry is difficult, there’s no doubt about it. Competition is fierce, but don’t feel disheartened if you miss out on your dream opportunity. You could even take on non-fashion apprenticeships at fashion companies – for example, you could apply for a Tech Apprenticeship at the boohoo Group and then transition into different roles within the business.

Fashion Enter also has a partnership with FashionCapital.co.uk, which is like a hub for all things fashion. Grab a brew and browse their website for resources from business advisors and industry specialists.

Put your most fashionable foot forward

In fashion, every day is different – there’s always a new trend and fresh style to excite customers. An apprenticeship in the fashion industry helps you turn your creative visions into real-world products.

Interested in the behind-the-scenes work in the fashion industry? Why not consider business management or retail apprenticeships instead!