What does a career in sport design and apparel look like?
If you’re creative, have an eye for detail and love design and technology, a career in sport design and apparel is an excellent option for you.
As a designer you may be working on a team or organisations’ branding and identity to increase fandom and supporter loyalty according to the team’s values. Or perhaps you’re passionate about fashion and want to design performance-enhancing athletic wear using the latest fabrics and materials with properties like moisture-wicking, durability and temperature regulation. A career in this field means you’ll stay current on the latest design trends, colour forecasts and emerging sport technology. The global market for sport apparel is major and growing, opening lots of opportunities. It can also be competitive, so you’ll need to hone your skills and be adaptable and passionate about design and sport.
What type of person is best suited to this career?
A career in sports design and apparel suits someone who:
Has these attributes
- Creative and enjoy visual design
- Likes making, designing or improving products
- Pays attention to detail and aesthetics
- Enjoys combining creativity with practical outcomes
- Likes thinking about how things feel, fit or perform
Enjoys these subjects
- Design & Technology
- Visual Arts
- Textiles
- Materials Technology
- Digital Design
Is interested in
- Designing clothing, shoes or accessories
- Drawing, sketching or digital design
- Customising sportswear or equipment
- Following sport fashion or brand design
- Sustainability or new materials
Exciting jobs in this field
- Textile Designer – creates specialised, high-performance fabrics and materials for athletic wear.
- Athletic Apparel Designer – creates functional and stylish performance-enhancing sportswear for optimal movement and comfort.
- Sports Merchandiser – develops and implements strategies to sell sports-related products and team merchandise to boost fandom and revenue.
- Graphic Designer – creates visual content e.g. logos, merchandise and/or ads for sporting organisations to build brand identity.
In-depth job focus
What does life as a Sports Textile Designer look like?
As a Sports Textile Designer you’ll create, develop and select fabrics and prints for athletic apparel. You’ll balance aesthetic trends with technical needs like moisture-wicking, stretch and durability. Your typical day could include designing a pattern, researching sportswear trends, working with manufacturers and/or testing materials. You’ll be working with fashion designers, product developers and merchandisers. Sports Textile Designers can be employed by major global athletic brands, fast-fashion retailers or private-label manufacturers. You could work in-house or as a freelance consultant.
Working as a Sports Textile Designer could be your dream career if you enjoy:
- spotting emerging trends
- working as part of a team
- communicating your ideas to people
- working with the latest technology
How do you become a Sports Textile Designer in Australia?
Ideally you’ll study some of the following High School subjects which are highly relevant for a career as a Sports Textile Designer:
- Textiles and Design (for studying fibres and textile technologies)
- Visual Arts (for design and drawing skills)
- Design and Technology (for product design and manufacturing)
- Science (for understanding material science)
- Maths (for pattern making and technical spec)
To become a Sports Textile Designer in Australia, it helps to have a Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in:
- Fashion and Textiles
- Textile Design
- Applied Fashion
However, you can also enter the field without tertiary education if you have a strong portfolio of work, excellent technical skills and practical experience. You can gain experience through junior roles like assistant designer, merchandiser or in retail.
Where could a career as a Sports Textile Designer take you?
A Sports Textile Designer typically starts their career in a junior or assistant role focused on creating digital prints and colour palettes. With a few years’ experience you could take on more responsibility, perhaps managing seasonal ranges or liaising with manufacturers. As a Senior Textile Designer you could oversee the artistic and strategic direction of entire sportwear collections. You may also choose to specialise in an area such as garment construction, fabric performance or apparel sourcing. With technical knowledge of fabrics and skills in pattern making, you could also transfer to other roles in fashion, technical manufacturing or merchandising.
Career stories
Meet women shaping the future of sport across a wide range of roles. Explore their career journeys, what they enjoy most about their work and the lessons they have learned along the way. Get practical advice to help you imagine your own next step.