Fess up: when the celebs hit the red carpet wearing stiletto heels with gladiator straps climbing their calves, some of you long to become a shoe designer. If you're the artsy type, this may be more than a dream, so don't let naysayers convince you that nothing short of a business degree will guarantee your financial future. OK. Get the degree. But only if it will help you attain your goal of shoe designer extraordinaire.
- Design degree
- Internship
- Computer
- Design software
- Portfolio or look book
- Shoe samples
- Business plan
- Pattern makers (optional)
- Manufacturers (optional)
- Industry contacts (optional)
Suggestions
Sacrifice everything for a design school experience as competition is fierce. It doesn't have to be Paris, but Blahnik, Louboutin, Ferragamo and Choo would tell you that a cutting-edge educational experience is worth its weight in---well, shoes. Become a pro at sketching and shoe design software modeling to bring your concepts to life. Learn to storyboard in school; master this technique so you can place your shoe designs into context as they relate to contemporary trends, colors, fads and fashions.
Become a risk taker and an experimenter, if you aren't already one. Your designs should equal your business acumen. Both require walking on the edge if you're to stand out from the crowd. Study anatomy, fine art, kinesiology, marketing, engineering, fashion, beauty, business and industrial design. Psychology and business classes will come in very handy, so don't skip them.
Choose a niche. You can experiment with all shoe design categories before you establish your company, but the wise designer hones in on one of these shoe categories: formal, outdoor, medical, kids, business or recreation. Apprentice at the side of any shoe designer willing to take you on, no matter what type of shoe she designs, so you understand how the industry works.
Construct a business plan based on the type of enterprise you're launching. You'll need financial backing commensurate with your goals, startup cash for equipment, supplies, materials and nondesign essentials like insurance, rent, utilities and travel. Plow cash into your samples and portfolio or look book so you can meet with investors, potential employers or clients knowing that you'll wow them with the brilliant designs represented by your presentation materials.
Launch your shoe design business from a spare bedroom, a studio or a shared space. Consider having a partner. If you plan to work as a designer for a shoe company, pound the pavement with your samples and sketches to land your first gig. If you're starting solo, use your look book to approach shoe companies about licensing your original designs in return for either a per-design payment or royalties. Control the entire process yourself by contracting with pattern makers and manufacturers---here or abroad. This option will require you to land a sales representative so you can focus on your creations.
Jump into the industry feet first. Shoe industry trade shows, publications, websites and other avenues of communication will keep you up to date on colors, trends and consumer buying habits. Put your best foot forward and perhaps one day, you'll see your shoes on a red carpet.
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