Welcome to our brand spankin' new career series.

This month, to honour Fashion Month, we dived into the fashion industry. We spoke to a stylist and creative director, a designer, a fashion buyer and magazine director, as well as a fashion PR. All gave great insights into what it's like working in the industry... but how exactly do you get into the industry? We're going to look at your various options, from college courses, to internships and assistant positions to ensure that you find a way into the industry. There are obviously many more options and roads you can follow to get into the industry, but we're going to look at a key few here.

Fashion Design

Dublin Institute of Design

• Fashion Design - 2 year Higher Diploma 
• Fashion Design - 1 year National Certificate
• Fashion Design - 10 week Associate Certificate

Portobello Institute

• Fashion Trends Design Development and Production - Part time and evening Certificate
• Fashion Design - 1 year Fetac Level 5 Major Award in Fashion Design
• Advance Fashion Design - Part time Advanced Certificate in Fashion Design

International Career Institute

• Fashion Design - Diploma and Advance Diploma

Griffith College

• Fashion Design - Full time BA (Hons)
• Fashion Design - Full time BA

Mallow College of Design and Tailoring

• Fashion Design - 3 year part time Diploma

Fashion Buying

Dublin Institute of Design

• Fashion Buying - 1 year National Higher Certificate
• Fashion Buying - 10 week Associate Certificate

Portobello Institute

• Fashion Marketing and Buying - Part time FETAC Level 5 in Fashion Buying and Merchandising
• Fashion Buying and Merchandising - 1 year FETAC Level 5 Certificate

Communications and Management Institute

• Fashion Buying and Merchandising - Part time QQI level 5

Fashion Styling

Dublin Institute of Design

• Fashion Styling, Commercial, Media and Editorial - Part time Certificate

Colour and Image Academy

• Fashion Styling - Part time certificate

International Career Institute

• Fashion Styling and Image Consulting - Part time certificate

Fashion Writing

Dublin City University

• Communication Studies - Full time BA (Hons)
• Journalism - Full time BA (Hons)
• Arts - Full Time BA (Hons)

University College Dublin

• Information and Communication Studies - Full time BA (Hons)

Dublin Institute of Technology

• Journalism - Full time BA
• Creative and Cultural Industries - Full time BA

Cork Institute of Technology

• Creative Digital Media - Full time BA (Hons)

NUI Galway

• Creative Writing - Full time BA
• Journalism - Full time BA

Griffith College

• Journalism - Full time BA

Dublin Business School

• Journalism - Part time BA

Fashion PR

Dublin City University

• Marketing, Innovation and Technology - Full time BSc (Hons)
• Digital Marketing - Full time BSc (Hons)

Maynooth University

• Marketing - Full time BA

Cork Institute of Technology

• Public Relations - Full time BA
• Public Relations with New Media - Full time MA

Dublin Institute of Technology

• Public Relations - Full Time BA

Dublin Business School

• Event Management and PR - Part time Diploma

Dorset College Dublin

• Event Management and PR - Part time Diploma

Galway Business School

• Marketing, PR and Social Media - Part time Diploma 

  And a few more *very important* points:

• The fashion industry is wide and varied. NO matter what part of the industry you want to be involved in, you need to get your foot in the door.
• Contact people you look up to and admire. Ask them if they're looking for an assistant/intern. If you can get work with industry professionals, it will be invaluable.
• Follow key industry experts on social media to look out for job openings.
• ASSIST, ASSIST, ASSIST.
• Start a blog or website to document your work. It will come in handy and act as a portfolio of sorts.
• Network with EVERYONE. Contacts are key.