People, what more do you need to confirm that the fashion industry is not a safe and smart investment of your LIFE as you age-ESPECIALLY if you are a designer or creative. You really should be getting a back up certification or degree to go into something that guarantees steady, longterm employment as you get into your 50s and beyond.
I wasted my LIFE being out of work probably 40% of career, spending my savings in between layoffs in Los Angeles and being out of work for a year or more in between senior roles before landing the next 6 fig position which would not last for more than two years before a company sale, closure, or division change. Really. I left 3 years and walked away from a 35 year design career with almost nothing to my name after spending it all in between the last 3 LA senior design jobs looking for work. All 3 companies either sold to other companies with massive layoffs, closed and let everyone go, or moved outside of LA. And this was BEFORE COVID. I’m in another field that is not affected by the economy (health related field) and now I work for myself, 5 days per week. A little less money but considering the year long unemployment gaps in between working, I am working more NOW and the money ended up being the same. Plus I only work 20 hours per week to hit the same numbers I made working 45-50 hours not including unpaid Saturdays before market and all of the round trip DRIVING downtown, which I no longer do at all, and control my own schedule from home near the ocean where I live.
As a 50 year old, I completely agree that fashion is not a safe and smart investment. However I have also reached out to ex designers who have branched into UX and they said after 50, they are also struggling to find good jobs in that field. I have started my own small business, hopefully fingers crossed, it will be sustainable in the long run. What fields do you suggest for the over 50 fashion creatives to branch into?
@design-is-my-life,
The most stable jobs are NOT in a creative field but instead are in healthcare, science, and certain AI types of fields.
I sadly had to throw away my entire 35 year design career not because I wanted to. I’d do it until my last dying breath if I could (not working for the DTLA/Vernon grind of Chinese owned companies that have slashed salaries and benefits and working conditions near homeless tenements which so much of LA has become the last 10 years).
There are some great companies to work for but I no longer have those connections and in my 50’s am too expensive and walled out by those more software savvy and less expensive.
I went into health and wellness, a two year struggle but finally it’s on subscription auto pilot and easily scalable the longer I work at at. I can use AI to grow my business as well which is free.
I agree this industry is not a safe one to be in. I’m really struggling with what at 55 years of age is a good certification to get that will be a solid back up. I’m extremely tech savvy - thankfully I’ve kept up well with the programs. I did look into Web design, but that seems like a lot more complicated to get into and learn than I thought it was. I’m considering teaching myself, Rino seven so that at least I have that 3D program knowledge that may make me more marketable. At least as a freelancer. I am currently employed in more of a product development role, which is not ideally what I want to be doing, but I am grateful for it. I do know however, there’s nothing safe about it. Anyone else have some suggestions of directions to go in? Perhaps industries where at least 20 years of designer/product development experience would be useful? It’s a good topic and one I’d love to hear others opinions on. .
I’m in the same boat, and age. I honestly don’t think that stability exists in any job the way it used to 20 years ago. Things have changed so much from just 5 years ago, especially with AI. I think there will always be work to be done in healthcare, fitness, wellness, nutrition/food, and beauty. Basic clothing will always be needed, but fashion will always reflect the time it is in. Right now we’re in an ugly mode of fast fashion production and fast marketing through social channels. On a more optimistic note there is a call for sustainable products which may open up some doors career-wise. From the Occupational Outlook projections, page 6, https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2015/article/pdf/occupational-employment-projections-to-2024.pdf - there is a list of occupations and the percentage of their projected growth. Healthcare support, social services, education and personal care are expected to grow in demand. If you want to do more creative work in fashion, do it on your own terms, on the side, let your main job support your side hustle. Or teach at a local college, while you’re still freelancing.
I agree that much of the fashion industry lacks stability now. I also have decades of experience but after the pandemic and so many large corporations “restructuring” or companies being bought up by venture capital organizations, it is much harder to land a job that my experience qualifies me for. It seems that all the job openings state that they are entry level but require 10 years of experience, while lowballing the salary range. So really, no one wants to pay a reasonable salary for 10 years’ experience. And if you have more than 10 years of experience, it is intimidating to managers that may be somewhat younger than you are. I think there will be about a 5-year shift while some companies suffer through the “skills gap” that will be created by ignoring seasoned, hands-on industry professionals. (This is part of the “ugly mode of fast fashion production”.) There is a lot of ill-fitting product out in the marketplace now. Who cares if you know how to navigate a random PLM program if the garments don’t fit and aren’t constructed well. This will improve as the trend to be “green” with slow, sustainable, high quality “heritage” fashion gains support. My solution to compete with younger, less-experienced job seekers? Get up to speed on a 3D design program, whether it is Browzwear or CLO- that is what they are teaching in fashion schools now- but when you combine the 3D skills with years of 2-D patternmaking and fitting experience, your garments will fit better, and sell more consistently.