What is a fashion portfolio and how to create one?    

In the vast world of fashion in which many designers work hard to make a name for themselves, a fashion portfolio is a very effective tool that enables designers to keep an archive of their work, which they then use to present their skills and unique style to their clients. In short, it is a collection of all the samples created by a fashion designer whose aim is to tell the world who you are as a professional. A fashion portfolio will help provide your clients with an idea about your level of creativity and work experience.

The portfolio is an opportunity for designers to show their process, and there are several key components that will help you do this:

• namely an introduction,
• mood boards,
• fashion designs,
• technical drawings. 

The key components of a fashion portfolio:

Introduction

When you introduce your portfolio, keep it brief. This is not an introduction to you as a designer, but it should include the inspiration and purpose of the collection you have chosen to present. Moreover, you should let the client know what type of designs they can expect to find in the portfolio. This is basically the part where you tell the client what you are going to show them! Wait until you have finished creating your portfolio before writing your introduction; at that point, your ideas will be much clearer in your mind so it will be easy to be concise

Mood Board

Creating a fashion portfolio might seem like a daunting task, especially for creatives, but whatever your level of experience, the process is the same: collect, edit, and finally select your best projects. The mood board is a great place to start. A mood board is a collage of images, texts, and objects about a given topic. It is a visual presentation of what a designer feels about a general or particular idea. This presentation tool balances creative freedom and coordination and is often used by design professionals and creative artists such as photographers, interior designers, and graphic designers to convey the style or qualities which they would like to pursue. Mood boards can be either physical or digital; you might want to do both so that you can share your skills with a wider audience. Although the  physical version can take a while to create, they tend to have a higher impact. In comparison,  digital mood boards are quicker to create, particularly when it comes to collaboration projects.  They may include videos, sounds, and can be easily shared online. 
The mood board-making process involves clarifying your goal, exploring several themes, collecting any related text, images, and other visual elements, improving fonts and colors, adding some notes, and asking for feedback. It is best to avoid overloading the senses, so you need to be very selective about what you choose to include. Always keep your target audience in mind, make sure to clearly convey your personal identity through the use of imagery, texture, and color, and emphasize key concepts. 

Fashion designs

After explaining the concept and inspiration behind the work, designers use the design section present high-quality  photographs of their work. The pictures can be of models or mannequins wearing the garments. Fashion designers also add the outline or silhouettes of their work. It is best not to overcrowd this section, and select the best work that you wish to present. 

Technical drawings

Technical drawings are the best way to show your client that you have the skills to  draw accurate sketches without using any illustrator or drawing tool. The emergence of fast fashion has increased the demand for designers good at technical drawing because these technical writings have been crucial in making fashion prototypes. When you include these technical drawings, do not restrict yourself to a particular genre; provide designs of jeans, trousers, and coats all in one place, to show your range. 

Portfolio Surgery Course at Istituto Marangoni

If you are really serious about presenting your work in its best possible light, organizing  your ideas, and putting together a professional fashion portfolio, you might want to consider a course in Portfolio Surgery at Istituto Marangoni. This 3-week intensive course will help you fine-tune your portfolio and improve your proficiency in creative research, 2D & 3D illustration techniques, or the technical representation of garments. 

The fashion course focuses on understanding volume and the technical design of clothing with a holistic vision of the creative process. Tutorials help participants to perfect research in the fashion industry by sourcing relevant images and analyzing cultural influences, which are key aspects of a design proposal, and ultimately, in planning for a successful career in fashion.

For more information on this and any of our other courses, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to guide your enquiry.

BA in Fashion Design at Istituto Marangoni

The BA hons course in fashion design has been awarded for its excellence  and is a highly selective course whose key pillars are sustainable fashion and radical excellence. Ideal for undergraduates with a passion for the fashion industry, the course offers complete training in preparation for a professional career. The three-year course is designed to facilitate entry to the most prestigious roles in the fashion sector, both in terms of creativity and job opportunities. 

To find out more about this and other courses on offer at Istituto Marangoni, complete the contact form and one of our tutors will get in touch to help you find the right path to suit your needs.