With London Fashion Week now in full swing, The British Fashion Council (BFC) is leading an initiative to promote “Positive Fashion”. The aim is to celebrate best practice in the industry and encourage companies to make business decisions that create forward-looking and productive changes. 

With this in mind, the BFC has been running a programme of activities that involves more than 78 clothing brands, 103 stores and 346 individual events. 

The city-wide celebrations have included not only designer catwalk shows but 

also, the discoveryLAB – an experiential space where fashion meets art, technology and music – and a designer exhibition showcasing the work of progressive designers and themed around sustainability, community and ethics. 

This reflects the fact ethical business and sustainability are fast becoming the norm in the fashion industry, with ethical work practices expected to be part of the job description in roles associated with the sector. 

The most coveted job in fashion is, of course, the fashion designer. If you’ve always had an eye for style and your finger on the pulse of what’s going to be the next big thing, this job could see your designs moving from sketchbook and laptop to the cutting and sewing table. From here they could go on to star on catwalks and be bestsellers in boutiques around the world. 

It’s a highly creative and satisfying job but isn’t solely about creating next season’s must-have clothing. It often involves project managing manufacturing, marketing and distribution. 

The manufacturing side of fashion is also big business. According to the British Fashion Council, the value of the industry to the UK’s economy has increased to a record £32 billion, with textile manufacturers helping to drive growth. 

The frontline workforce includes production operatives such as sewing machinists and knitters. Training is often provided, but enthusiasm for creating high-quality garments, an eye for detail and manual dexterity are all must-haves. 

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a pair of novelty socks or a bespoke wedding dress, quality is paramount, and it falls to the quality control manager to ensure the designer’s product specifications are adhered to. Not only will this involve checking materials and craftsmanship but ensuring production development uses the most efficient and sustainable processes. 

Of course, for finished products to sell, the buying public must first know about them. This is where marketing and PR specialists come in.  

Among the many marketing vacancies on x1jobs, content creation and copywriting are ideal roles if you love working with words. In the client-handling side of fashion PR, meanwhile, a position as account executive could see you arranging shows and photoshoots and mixing with the movers in the industry. 

For those who feel most at home with the written word, in this instance, covering new line reveals, interviewing designers, offering product reviews and predicting future trends, the role of fashion journalist may be well suited.  

Fancy a fast-paced fashion role? From immersive shop interiors to virtual reality try-before-you-buy tech, the world of fashion retail is rapidly evolving. 

New manufacturing and distribution systems have allowed stores to update the stock every few days, instead of twice a season, while the rise of online shopping has opened up catwalk creations to armchair customers. 

Since fashion tastes are quickly changing, shop-based fashionistas must keep up or, better, stay ahead of trends. If a customer isn’t certain what they want, you will need to know the latest trends inside out. 

Before the merchandise is delivered and put on display, the buyer must determine precisely what ranges should be stocked. This needs to take into consideration not only the latest lines but also factors such as future buying habits, pricing and distribution and delivery. 

This is why buyers need to have excellent commercial awareness and the ability to anticipate what people will want not just today but next week and the month after. 

When it comes to forging a fashion career, be sure to show your enthusiasm. 

Academic qualifications are a bonus when applying for positions on x1jobs, but above all educate yourself in the history of fashion – only by appreciating context can you learn the relevance of why something is important today. 

Remember, fashion is highly creative and adventurous, and this makes it very competitive. As well as a suitable degree in marketing or advertising, having a friendly and outgoing nature must be matched with a rhino-tough skin and excellent people skills. 

Before applying for a role, use the x1jobs vacancy description, the internet and social media to learn everything you can about the business.