The target market for fashion designers is a fascinating and ever-changing group of people who have a profound impact on the clothes that eventually end up in our closets.
It might seem that fashion designers need to cater to the ever-changing whims of fashionistas, celebrities, and influencers. But the target market for fashion designers is much broader than that.
These are the people who set the latest trends in fashion. They decide what will become popular and what won’t. They decide what will be available for sale and what will not. And, therefore, they decide on the latest style of clothing that we see, from the streets to the beach.
In this article, we will take a look at who makes up the target market for fashion designers and discuss how they influence this industry.
Who is the Target Market for Fashion Designers?
To best understand the target market for fashion designers, we need to understand who would hire a fashion designer or who would be interested in showcasing or selling a fashion designer’s products.
There are 7 main types of target markets for fashion designers:
- Clothing Retailers
- Department Stores
- Boutiques
- Private Clients
- Fashion Shows
- Fashion Houses
- Fashion Magazines and Blogs
Let’s look closely at each of these segments.
#1. Clothing Retailers
Clothing retailers are a common target market for fashion designers. Designers often work with retailers to create exclusive lines or collections that are sold in the retailer’s stores or online.
Retailers can also have their own in-house design teams, but they also work with independent fashion designers to create unique products for their customers. Retailers are always looking for new and innovative designs to stay ahead of the competition and attract customers.
When fashion designers work with retailers, they will often create designs based on the retailer’s target market. For example, a designer who works with a children’s clothing retailer will create designs that are appropriate for children. Or, a designer who works with a retailer targeting the market for streetwear, will create designs that are popular in that market.
#2. Department Stores
Department stores are another common target market for fashion designers. Designers often create lines or collections that are sold in the store’s department devoted to clothing and accessories.
A department store will typically carry a wide variety of designers and price points. They are always looking for new designers to add to their roster in order to attract new customers and keep existing customers coming back.
#3. Boutiques
The market for boutique stores can be very different from the target market for department stores. Boutiques are typically smaller shops that carry a more limited selection of designers and styles.
Boutiques often cater to a specific target market. For example, there might be a boutique that specializes in selling only vintage clothing or only designer clothes.
Some boutiques specialize in a certain type of clothing, like swimwear or formal wear. Others try to attract those who are conscious about the environment, fair trade, etc., and may be more interested in sustainable fashion products.
Other specialist boutiques, like a bridal boutique, target people looking for clothing for a specific occasion.
Because boutiques have a more limited selection, they often work closely with the designers they carry. The designer may even be responsible for creating exclusive lines or collections for the boutique.
#4. Private Clients
Some fashion designers work exclusively with private clients who commission them to create clothing or accessories. Private clients may be individuals or businesses.
A private client may be an individual who wants a custom-made piece of clothing or someone who wants to commission a designer to create a line of clothing to be sold under their own label.
Fashion designers who work with private clients typically have a higher level of experience and training. They may also have a more established name in the industry, which can help attract private clients.
#5. Fashion Shows
Fashion Shows are a great way for fashion designers to showcase their work and attract new target markets.
Fashion show audiences include potential buyers, retailers, the media, and other members of the fashion industry.
Fashion designers often create exclusive lines or collections specifically for fashion shows. This allows them to showcase their work to a wide audience and attract the attention of the who’s who of the fashion world.
#6. Fashion Houses
Fashion Houses are another target market for fashion designers. A Fashion House is a company that employs fashion designers to create lines of clothing or accessories that are then sold under the company’s label.
Working for a Fashion House can be a great way for fashion designers to get their work out there and build their name in the industry. It can also be a great way to learn from more experienced designers and gain exposure to new target markets.
One way that fashion designers can make money is to license their designs to a fashion house which can then produce and sell items bearing the designer’s name or label. This can be a great way to generate income while still allowing the designer to maintain creative control over their work.
Fashion designers can also work freelance for a fashion house, creating designs that are then sold under the fashion house’s label.
#7. Fashion Magazines and Blogs
Even though fashion magazines and blogs are not traditional target markets for fashion designers, in the sense that they will not buy or sell the designer’s clothing, they can still be a valuable tool for marketing and promotion.
This makes them a target market for fashion designers.
Fashion magazines and blogs can help to generate interest in a designer’s work and attract new target markets. They can also be a great way to keep existing customers up-to-date on new collections and developments.
Some fashion designers even create their own fashion magazines or blogs as a way to promote their work and attract new target markets.
Conclusion
The target market for fashion designers includes clothing retailers, department stores and boutiques. All three of these markets are ways for fashion designers to get their designs to market.
Private individuals can also be a target market for fashion designers as many wealthy individuals will hire a designer to build custom clothes for them.
Apart from those who buy a fashion designer’s products directly, there are those who help promote and finance them. These include fashion shows, fashion houses, fashion magazines and fashion blogs.
