From global fashion events to clients worldwide, being able to speak at least more than one language can be hugely beneficial if you’ve found yourself working in the fashion industry. It doesn’t just open up the doors for you, however, but also for your fashion brand. Here, we reveal exactly why learning another language should be one of your top priorities if you’re serious about establishing a career in the fashion industry.
The most common languages in fashion
First, let’s look at which languages are common in the industry. Of course, fashion is a global business but there are some countries and languages that are more dominant. Italy tops the list when it comes to countries leading the way in terms of fashion, which is no surprise given that it’s given the world brands such as Gucci and Versace, host prolific annual fashion events such as Milan’s Fashion Week.
France and the UK follow suit with other luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Vivienne Westwood hailing from the respective countries. though the language of fashion is universal, commentary on these designers and events is not. Therefore, if you’re in the fashion industry, you won’t go wrong in brushing up on your communication skills in other dialects and languages.
It’s also important to note that in recent years, countries like Japan, China, and Russia have also begun to emerge as some of the world’s biggest fashion epicentres – thanks to a unique heritage, inspiring culture, and clients willing to spend a lot of money. This, in itself, has meant the likes of Japan are fast becoming one of the biggest luxury fashion markets in the world, with brands such as the Japanese-owned UNIQLO having a massive impact internationally.
To take advantage of this upcoming fashion scene and build relationships with new and emerging Japanese designers, taking Japanese classes or learning a few phrases and words to get you by could be your competitive advantage. As a sign of respect for the culture and country, some basic fluency is ideal for making a stellar first impression. However, building up proficiency and refining your language skills could further establish your name within the Japanese fashion circle and lead to better opportunities within the regional industry.
The benefits of being multilingual in fashion
Networking
This one might seem obvious, but if you want to be heard in fashion you need to be seen, which comes down to networking. As Fashion Career Advisor states, when you’re at these events, the more languages you can speak and the more people you can interact with, and ultimately impress, the deeper the relationships you will be able to build and maintain.
What’s more, it’s these relationships that you never know when you’ll need – be it an introduction later down the line, an invitation to an upcoming event, or even a job opportunity.
Travelling
The fashion industry requires you to attend lots of different events, as we’ve already mentioned, and these can sometimes take you to all corners of the world. Not to mention, that your job may also require you to travel frequently – whether to pitch a new campaign, buy new trends for the catwalk, or meet with potential clients and models.
Depending on where you’re traveling to and who you’re meeting, these people may not be comfortable speaking certain languages and it could fall to you to communicate with them. If you can communicate in their native language, it’ll make the meeting better but it’s guaranteed to get you a few brownie points.
Branding
As a business owner, there are already so many obstacles to navigate – none more so than when you’re in the fashion industry. When you’re in the early stages of setting up your fashion brand, you’ll need to communicate and deal with people from all walks of life and countries, and knowing multiple languages can make this easier. As well to this, you might find doing business with these people simpler and you may even see opportunities in a new way. After all, you’ll be able to understand better the situation at hand and everyone will be more at ease if you’re all on the same page.
Speaking multiple languages could also help you to be taken more seriously when you’re trying to get your name and fashion brand out there. For example, if you’re trying to launch in a country and can’t communicate with anyone, it will do nothing for your brand perception. With language skills, you can also build relationships with media contacts and ensure you can effectively communicate your brand message and persona – which is crucial if you want to be spoken about for the right reasons.
These are just a few reasons why being multilingual can help you in the fashion world – both professionally and personally. The truth is, whether you’re a model, designer, or are working behind the scenes, knowing lots of different languages is in high demand in fashion and can help you in more ways than one.
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