What to Buy a Fashion Student

The truth is, fashion students often balance between practical needs for their education and their personal sense of style. They need tools to create, inspiration to innovate, and items to showcase their love for fashion. So, if you're wondering what to buy for that budding designer or fashionista in your life, look no further. This guide is filled with creative ideas that align with both their educational needs and personal flair.

Essential Tools for Crafting

Fashion students need practical, professional-grade tools to bring their designs to life. Let's take a closer look at some of these must-haves:

1. Dress Form/Mannequin: Every fashion student dreams of having their own adjustable mannequin. A mannequin allows them to visualize their creations in three dimensions, helping them test and tweak their designs before sewing them together.

2. Sewing Machine: A reliable sewing machine is an absolute necessity for anyone in fashion school. Opt for a portable one that offers various stitch functions. Brands like Brother and Singer are student-friendly and durable.

3. Pattern Making Kit: Pattern-making kits contain rulers, tape measures, tracing wheels, and curve sets, essential for any aspiring designer. These are especially useful when drafting patterns or making adjustments to existing designs.

4. Sketchbooks & Drawing Tools: A well-made sketchbook is crucial for capturing design ideas. Moleskine and Canson make high-quality options, and pairing this with a set of professional drawing pencils or markers makes the perfect gift set.

Educational Resources & Inspirational Materials

Fashion students constantly seek inspiration, so why not provide them with books or other media that can spark creativity?

1. Fashion Design Books: Consider gifting classic fashion design books like "The Fashion Sketchpad" by Tamar Daniel or "Fashion Design Course: Principles, Practice, and Techniques" by Steven Faerm. These resources provide insights into techniques, history, and current trends in the fashion industry.

2. Magazines or Online Subscriptions: A subscription to Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, or The Business of Fashion website can be the perfect way for a fashion student to stay up-to-date with industry trends, news, and styles.

3. Fashion Documentaries or Films: Whether it's a hard copy DVD or an online streaming service subscription, consider gifting documentaries like "The September Issue" or "McQueen". These films explore the behind-the-scenes aspects of the fashion world, offering students a closer look at iconic designers and the fashion industry.

Practical Fashion Accessories & Stylish Gifts

Not everything has to be about school. Sometimes, a fashion student just wants to look the part!

1. Statement Accessories: Fashion students love standing out with their style. Consider bold jewelry pieces, unique scarves, or high-quality belts. These items are not only personal, but they help the student express their individual style.

2. Designer Tote Bag: A sturdy, stylish tote bag is perfect for carrying around sketchbooks, fabric swatches, and sewing kits. Brands like Fjällräven or Longchamp combine practicality with fashion, making these bags a student favorite.

3. Personalized Clothing Labels: A truly thoughtful gift is personalized clothing labels, which allows a fashion student to add a professional touch to their creations. They can sew their name or brand into their garments, boosting their sense of pride and ownership over their work.

Tech Tools for the Modern Fashion Designer

Technology is playing an ever-growing role in fashion, and there are several tech gifts that would greatly benefit a fashion student.

1. Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription: Most fashion students will need to work with programs like Photoshop and Illustrator to bring their designs to life digitally. A subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud is an excellent way to support their digital work.

2. Stylus and Tablet: For those who prefer sketching digitally, a stylus and tablet combo like the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil or a Wacom tablet can be a game changer. These tools allow them to sketch ideas directly onto a screen, which makes the design process faster and more interactive.

3. Portable Photography Kit: Fashion students also need to showcase their work, and good photography can make all the difference. A portable photography kit with a ring light, backdrop, and smartphone tripod could be just the thing they need to create stunning portfolio shots.

Sustainable Fashion Gifts

Sustainability is a growing movement in fashion, and many fashion students are passionate about ethical fashion. Here are some eco-friendly gifts to consider:

1. Sustainable Fabric Kits: Gifting a fabric kit made of eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, or recycled fibers could help a fashion student practice sustainable design.

2. Zero Waste Pattern Making Book: Encourage sustainable design practices with a book like "Zero Waste Fashion Design" by Timo Rissanen and Holly McQuillan. This gift promotes the concept of minimizing waste in fashion creation.

3. Ethically Sourced Fabrics Subscription: There are now subscription boxes that provide fashion students with ethically sourced and sustainable fabric options. Brands like Offset Warehouse and MyFabrics offer such services.

Budget-Friendly Fashion Student Gifts

You don’t have to break the bank to buy a thoughtful gift. Here are some budget-friendly options:

1. Fabric Swatch Books: A fabric swatch book allows a fashion student to touch and feel a wide variety of textiles. It’s an affordable yet essential gift that can help them decide which fabrics to use in their designs.

2. Sewing Notions: Every fashion student goes through tons of pins, needles, threads, and zippers. Create a custom sewing kit packed with essential notions – a simple but much-appreciated gift.

3. Fashion Stickers or Pins: Fun stickers or enamel pins with fashion-related designs can brighten up a fashion student’s day. They can use them to decorate their sketchbooks or backpacks.

High-End Gifts for a Special Occasion

If you’re looking to splurge on something memorable, these high-end gifts will surely impress any fashion student:

1. Luxury Fabric Yardage: Splurge on a few yards of luxurious silk, cashmere, or designer fabric. It’s a dream gift for any fashion student who wants to create something truly extraordinary.

2. Designer Sewing Machine: Brands like Bernina or Janome make high-end sewing machines that offer advanced functions like embroidery and quilting. These are investment pieces that a serious fashion student will use for years to come.

3. Fashion Week Tickets: The ultimate gift for any fashion lover would be tickets to a major fashion week event. Whether it's in New York, Paris, Milan, or London, attending Fashion Week is a dream come true for a student studying fashion.

Conclusion

Fashion students thrive on creativity, and a well-thought-out gift can do wonders for their inspiration and education. Whether it’s a high-end sewing machine, a useful toolkit, or even a fashion-forward tote bag, there are countless ways to support their journey into the world of fashion. The key is to strike a balance between practicality and style, ensuring that your gift not only serves their educational needs but also aligns with their personal sense of creativity.