The world of fashion design has always lured individuals from different sections of society. Some pursue it as a career, some to walk the ramp in style, while some others lead from the front. Many creative minds have carved a niche for themselves in this industry. With globalisation, fashion styles have changed, and you can find ethnic Indian wear being worn by people around the globe. India is home to eminent fashion designers like Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani, Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani, Naeem Khan, Ritu Kumar, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Masaba Gupta, and Raghavendra Rathod, among so many other renowned ones. What makes these individuals unique is their passion for producing spectacular creations.
This industry has mushroomed in the last two decades, with many youngsters preferring to pursue a career. Many established fashion houses employ freshers as interns and allow them to hone their skills. The street-smart ones choose to start on their own despite the many challenges. The industry is open to all, and you can make it big if you are good at weaving magic out of fabric to cater to the varied tastes of a diverse population.
Did you know?
Rahul Mishra is the first Indian fashion designer who displayed his clothing designs at the Paris Fashion Week and is also the first to win the prestigious International Woolmark Prize.
Fashion Industry: Expanding Its Footprints To New Cities
The Indian fashion industry has witnessed tremendous growth in the last decade. Everyone likes to look dapper and stylish, and Indians across age groups – from kids and teenagers to young adults and senior citizens want to be in sync with the trends in clothing. The narrative for fashion brands has changed.
Today, the new-age youth, better known as Gen Z, set the trend for what’s to come. The world has become a truly small family. Emerging and new fashion trends make their presence felt across social media platforms and are soon pursued by designers to meet the demand at home. In recent times, there have been many brand acquisitions by the well-known fashion houses of India. People in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities have experienced an increasing demand for fashionable clothing. The Reliance-owned AJIO, TATA’s Trends, and many other well-known Indian brands have joined forces with international brands like Marks and Spencer and H&M to increase their portfolio offerings. From sea-side ports like Kochi to tourist spots like Shimla, the awareness of exquisite and fashionable wear has increased across the country.
Also Read: What is the Average Salary in India?
Fashion Designer Salary in India (per month)
The fashion designer's salary in India varies across cities. The skills and the experience of these professionals and the organisation they are employed in also make a big difference to their monthly remuneration. The average fashion designer salary in India per month amounts to about ₹19,500 – ₹35,000. The pay scale of a fashion designer depends on the city of work and the individual's profile. A junior fashion designer can draw about ₹16,000- ₹17,000 per month. You can find a Design assistant who earns about ₹25,000 per month. A mid-level fashion designer in India can earn about ₹44,000 a month. An experienced fashion designer in India can earn about ₹2 lakhs every month. If you prove your creativity, you tend to rise fast in this industry, and the monetary rewards are extremely fulfilling.
Factors Affecting Fashion Designers' Salary In India
The fashion design industry comes with its own challenges. The number of hours is often long, and the competition is severe. The qualified ones rise faster than the ones who are not academically qualified. Some of the factors affecting the fashion designer's income are given below:
- Academic qualifications – (Some study advanced courses abroad and even undergo a couple of months in training)
- Individual skills and creativity
- Experience
- City of employment
- Organisation – Some get employed with multi-national organisations, media houses, consulting firms as well as fabric giants. These factors also impact the salary structure.
Best Companies For Fashion Designers In India
Many established fashion designing corporates like Spykar, Adidas, Zara, Future Group, and Student. You can also do an internship with some of India’s leading fashion designers like Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Masaba Gupta, and even Anita Dongre.
Highest Paying Cities For Fashion Designers In India
Some Indian cities that are reputed for paying a good remuneration to fashion designers like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
Name of the city |
Fashion Designer Salary In India in Indian Rupees (Best Paying Cities) |
Delhi |
₹36,250 |
Bengaluru |
₹29,000 |
Gurgaon – Haryana |
₹25,791 |
Mumbai |
₹44,000 |
Kolkata |
₹20,000 |
Pune |
₹20,800 |
Noida (UP) |
₹20,600 |
The above figures are only an indication of the average base salary. These salaries could be on the higher side depending on the organisation, your experience, skills, and your qualifications.
Also Read: Professions that Offer the Highest Salary Jobs in India
The Highest Paying States for Fashion Designers in India
Two Indian states known for paying extremely good salaries to fashion designer designers in India are the union territory of New Delhi and the state of Maharashtra. These are followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh as well as Chennai. Digitisation has made it possible to earn lucrative salaries from the comfort of your own home.
Technology has made it possible to conceptualise, strategize, discuss and design to perfection irrespective of the city you reside in. Many fashion designers prefer to work from the comfort of their homes and connect with their employers and colleagues whenever the situation demands. Some travel once a week or a month for in-house discussions, gather materials and information and return home to work on the same.
The fashion designing scope and salary in India is wide-ranging. You can be physically present in a studio of your employer or work in a hybrid fashion, what matters are the creative and alluring results which will make heads turn. Several individuals learn the ropes by taking up part-time jobs and travel abroad to enhance their skills. These passionate individuals then return to set up their own businesses or establish alliances with reputed fashion houses.
Conclusion
The details of this article give you an insight into the fashion designing industry in India, the scope of pursuing a career in the same and the monetary rewards associated with it. The industry is very demanding, competitive, and involves creativity as well as dedication. The sky's the limit for one who can break through the conventional and come up with some stunning creations on a consistent basis. Several fashion designers prefer to set up their own school of training or form an alliance with reputed brands like Raymond’s and Reliance. There are others who prefer to go niche and cater to the likes of the elitist. There are many who prefer to design for artists in the world of entertainment. You can even find fashion designers who are employed to design traditional wear for politicians. The industry has numerous opportunities. The Indian fashion design industry has already established its roots across the globe. Many renowned names in Hollywood have their clothes designed by Indian fashion designers. If you love the scent of fabric and are good at creating versatile designs, this is the industry for you.
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