Fashion Predictor

Fashion predictors have to accurately assess the styles and colours that customers will want to wear or can be persuaded to wear.

Prediction is a very important part of the fashion business, where buyers work two seasons ahead.

Fashion predictors may work for agencies producing long-range forecasts to help retailers, manufacturers and designers plan their future ranges.

This is a global business but few prediction agencies exist in the UK. Opportunities may exist in-house, where the role of predictor is incorporated into the design department.

Typical work activities include: visiting trade fairs, fashion shows, exhibitions, shops and clubs all over the world; sketching and taking photographs, which are all fed back to the main office; compiling ideas into a catalogue that is sent to subscribers, who may be designers, manufacturers and buyers in retailing organisations, as well as agents' representatives worldwide.

They also prepare bulletins for clients to keep them up to date as 'moods' can change from month to month - influences can come from a wide range of sources such as popular music, street fashion and current political trends.

Freelance work is much more common than full-time ongoing work, and rates can vary widely.

You could negotiate fees based on the size of company and your own track record.

You will usually need a relevant degree that teaches both design and technical skills and will give you the practical knowledge needed to work in the industry.

To search for colleges and universities offering fashion and textile-related courses and degrees, use the course search on this site and check with individual colleges and universities as entry requirements vary.

You will need to put together a portfolio of work experience that you can take along to interviews. As the industry is very competitive (more than 3,000 fashion and textiles students qualify from higher education each year), any work experience you gain will give you an advantage when it comes to getting a job.

See the Can U Cut It website for advice on finding work experience and more information about careers in the fashion industry.