Whether a fashion designer or product developer is covered by an award will depend on:

• the industry their employer is in
• their skills, duties and qualifications.

It’s important to consider the actual duties they perform, not just their job title.

A fashion designer creates, plans and develops unique designs for clothing and accessories. Fashion designers also:

• have a good understanding of the design process
• undertake research into fashion trends and customer preferences
• have practical skills in building a garment
• work co-operatively with others, including pattern makers and garment technicians.

Product developers assist designers in taking a design from the initial concept through to production. They often do tasks including:

• liaising with suppliers, manufacturers and other employees
• creating tech packs
• sourcing materials
• organising fit sessions
• sample management.

Industry award coverage

Textile and Clothing Award

Not all fashion design work will take place in a manufacturing environment. It’s important to consider where the work is performed, and the seniority of the role.

Some fashion designers and product developers working in the textile industry can be covered by the Textile and Clothing Award. This will depend on their duties and skills.

Example: Designer – Creative and Designer – Other

The Textile and Clothing Award has skill level definitions for:

• Designer – Creative
• Designer – Other.

The classifications in the award don’t cover the duties, skills and qualifications of all fashion designers or recognise the creativity and innovation often required by the role. This means that even though there are definitions for designers in the award, not every fashion designer will be covered by it.

Under the award a level 5 employee can contribute to product development or product planning. An employee may be a level 5 if they also meet the other requirements of the classification, including that they have the skills necessary to achieve a Skill Level 4.

A fashion designer or product developer’s classification will be based on their duties. See the classifications page for more information about how to classify employees.

Other industry awards

Some fashion designers or product developers may be covered by other industry awards if their employer is in the industry covered by the award. For example, the Amusement Award provides a classification for trade qualified employees designing costumes.

To work out whether another industry award covers you, you may wish to contact us on your own situation.

Miscellaneous Award

The Miscellaneous Award can cover fashion designers or product developers if they’re not a managerial employee or professional employee, and not covered by an industry award.

An employee may be considered a professional employee if their role requires a degree qualification, for example, a bachelor’s degree in fashion or design.

Award free employees

Fashion designers and product developers who are mostly involved in the creative side of the design process are generally award free. These employees will often have a degree qualification, such as a bachelor of fashion (design).

They’re not covered by the Textile and Clothing Award because there are no classifications that cover the duties, skills, qualifications and creative oversight that they have.

They're entitled to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.

Example

Vivienne is a fashion designer for a local fashion brand. She has a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) that she uses in her position.

Vivienne researches the history of fashion, current trends and the latest fabrics. She prepares sketches for innovative new garments and significantly redesigns existing garment lines. She is part of a team that oversees the brand’s creative direction.

Vivienne works with product developers to further develop her designs and create tech packs. She also works with the pattern makers and garment technicians to ensure that the conversion of her designs into patterns and the fabrics selected to make the garments meet her creative vision.

There’s no award that has classifications covering the type of work Vivienne does. The Miscellaneous Award doesn’t cover Vivienne because she’s a professional employee.

Vivienne is award free.