
The state of Iowa is home to hundreds of retail shops, shopping malls, boutiques, and department stores. Some of the state’s most beautiful shopping malls can be found in both small towns and large cities, but many boutiques and unusual shopping districts are in large cities such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport. Head to downtown Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls’ certified cultural district) to browse specialty shops, galleries, and historical attractions. In Des Moines, Valley West Mall is a popular shopping spot where you’ll find more than 100 stores, and special events such as America’s Next Top Model Casting Call, Summer Sidewalk Sales, and fashion shows. Other top shopping venues include Historic East Village in downtown Des Moines, NorthPark Mall in Davenport, and Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids.
Although most of the activity in the fashion world happens in the major cities, other areas such as Dubuque (the city of hills), are worth exploring. Here, you’ll find a number of small retail shops that sell trendy ensembles from jeans and tees to handbags and other accessories. These shops are always open to working with emerging talent. Other cities to explore are Sioux City, Waterloo, Iowa City, Council Bluffs, Ames, and West Des Moines.
Career Opportunities & Employers in Iowa:
Iowa fashion designers may find work in consulting, retail sales, technical production, sample design, pattern making, and more. Some work as independent contractors, while others manage their own shops and design studios. Many entry-level designers may work for seasoned designers or even merchant wholesalers. Fashion merchandisers work in areas such as product development, production, marketing, and sales. Many also work in visual merchandising for retail stores or fashion houses. Fashion design and merchandising graduates can find work in just about any major city, but explore Des Moines first to see what it has to offer.
Iowa Fashion Schools & Programs:
Not every major fashion designer has a degree, but these lucky individuals are the exception, not the rule. Most employers prefer a two- or four-year degree from an accredited college. Fortunately, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits approximately 300 postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design. These schools typically award degrees in both fashion design and fashion merchandising.
Aspiring fashion designers and fashion merchandisers living in Iowa will have access to schools such as University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and Iowa State University in Ames. Other Iowa schools that offer fashion programs include:
- Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville
- Iowa Wesleyan College, Mt. Pleasant
- Saint Ambrose University, Davenport
If you’re interested in a career in fashion design or fashion merchandising, enroll in a fashion design or fashion merchandising degree program at one of the colleges mentioned here or at an accredited college that you find on your own. If you want start a business, consider combining your fashion design or fashion merchandising degree with a business or marketing degree. If this sounds like it may be a bit much to handle, you can always wait until you have completed your fashion degree to enroll in a full-time business or marketing degree program.
For more information about the fashion design and fashion merchandising industries, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at Bls.gov.
Employment and Salary Trends for Iowa:
As of July 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics had not reported recent employment and salary figures for designers or fashion merchandisers. However, fashion merchandisers working in retail often work with window and store displays. Nearly 500 window merchandisers (visual merchandisers) work in Iowa today, down from 760 in 2006.
Overall employment in the fashion industry is expected to grow by one percent for the 2008-2018 decade. Sewing and cutting jobs may decline as established designers and brands choose manufacturing companies overseas. However, employment of fashion designers is stable because many firms prefer to keep design work in house.
As of May 2008, the mean annual wage for fashion designers overall was $61,160. The lowest paid fashion designers earned an average annual salary of $32,150 and the highest paid fashion designers earned $124,780 per year. Because many fashion designers are self-employed, salaries may vary greatly. It’s not unusual for a top fashion designer to earn millions per year.
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