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Meet Sophie, 25, from Buckinghamshire, who works in London as a a junior handbag designer. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

It was hard to find a course that was just bags!

What is your job?

I’m a handbag designer, but I also work on small leather goods like key rings. I have worked on gifting as well – products like mugs, socks, umbrellas, a bit of everything really! I work on the design and the development.

What is your process at work?

The design process includes collecting research and drawing bags. We then do a technical specification. This includes measurements of the bag, construction details, and materials which are then sent to the factory. The factory creates samples of the bags which are sent back to us to see if anything needs changing. We may do up to six rounds of sampling. I also work on embellishments for bags and I do a bit of graphics as well.

I work on Adobe Illustrator, which is vector graphic design software. This is one of the key skills that we need. We are able to draw the bags with specs (to send over to the factory). As it is a CAD, a computer-aided drawing, it is easy to edit. This means that we can add different colours and textures.

What subjects did you study?

I studied Textiles, but I also studied PE, because I used to be really into sports. I decided to take a career in fashion, because I enjoyed it more. From Textiles I learnt how to sew and also how to draw. I did a BTEC in Fashion Design that covered lots of different subjects. We did a bit of styling, photography, costume design, and accessories. We did a module in accessories and I enjoyed that the most.

I had to really research to find my degree. I did my degree at the London College of Fashion. As part of the course, I did a placement year. I spent three months in men’s footwear design, seven months in accessory design and a further three months at a leather goods factory. I studied BA Honours Fashion Accessories Product Design and Development. They’ve now changed the course name to Bags and Innovation. It was hard to find a course that was just bags!

Was it a smooth ride?

It was hard to find placements, as a lot are unpaid and I couldn't afford to do an unpaid placement. I got my placements through a competition and through a scholarship.

Top tips

• Be proactive in what you do. If a suitable opportunity comes along, it's worth taking it, as you may not get the chance again
• Start applying for things as early as you can. There might be jobs out there and you don't want to miss that opportunity. Get your CV, portfolio and a shorter online portfolio ready before you apply
• Be aware that sometimes you get projects set for interviews too, which can be fun.

A similar job to a handbag designer is a fashion designer. Fashion designers use creative and technical skills to design new clothing and fashion ranges.

What to expect if you want to be a fashion designer

• Fashion designer average salary: £20,000 to £40,000 per year
• Fashion designer typical working hours: 40 to 42 hours per week

What qualifications do you need to be a fashion designer?

You could get into this role via a university course, a college course (such as a Level 2 Diploma, a Level 3 Extended Diploma or a T-level in Craft and Design - England-only, from Sept 2023) or an apprenticeship. You can also volunteer as you'll need as much work experience as you can as there is strong competition for jobs in the fashion industry.

Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service,

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the for more on T-levels.

Find out more on the Prospects website about the role of a .

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Tips and advice
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