Would you like to be in the spotlight and experience the glamour and shine of the catwalk? Or to be the first one to know the latest fashion trends? You do not need to be a famous model or celebrity for this! You can do it from the comfort of your home by specializing in fashion translation!
I believe it is always a good idea to specialize if you are providing translation services. This gives you an advantage over the competition, develops your skills and knowledge, and makes you the go-to expert in your field. Below, I will share my 5 reasons for specializing in the fashion and beauty industry.
Fashion is an Exciting and Creative Field
When I was a kid, I was passionate about watching fashion shows on TV and drawing sketches of clothing. Well, I did not become a fashion designer, however I implemented this hobby in what I do. The major reason to specialize in the beauty and fashion sector is that it is always exciting and magical, and I can focus on doing what I enjoy. When localizing product descriptions, slogans, marketing materials, articles about product launches, I can be creative and express different ideas that resonate with the audience’s needs and culture.
There are Niches to Choose from For Every Taste
Of course, fashion is not only about glamour. The entire process includes a variety of subsectors as production of textiles, manufacturing, retailing, and marketing. Sometimes translation can require a lot of technical skills as well. You can choose different niches such as apparel, footwear, textiles, you name it. I mainly focus on luxury fashion, fragrances, and sportswear. The best thing is there are no limits, and the variety can suit almost any taste!
Continuing Professional Development
We all know that in order to be excellent translators, we need to improve and broaden our skills and knowledge every day. The changing markets and customer requirements need constant skills development and improvement of market knowledge.
We can achieve this through visiting fashion-related fairs and events, through reading blogs, fashion websites and magazines, or through enrolling in training courses.
Undoubtedly, fashion exhibitions are great for networking and creating connections. This is a perfect opportunity to meet potential clients, fashion designers, and brand owners. Of course, you can attend such events online. However, if possible, I would recommend you visit at least one or two per year in person. It is a significant source of approaching new clients and gives you a chance to see what’s new in the industry, get to know the latest trends, and the new players on the scene. And don’t tell me it makes no difference experiencing this in person – you can touch the fabrics and visualize the models – which is crucial in order to localize them accordingly!
Fashion courses for translators can also be a significant source of developing your skills. They vary by topic and companies, and you can choose any depending on your specialty and interests. That is why I am always trying to take part in courses, get insights from leading industry experts and professionals and implement them in my work. Nowadays, there is too much information available, and we must take advantage of this knowledge, so that we can boost our skills, and prepare for the next steps in our careers.
Networking with Other Creative Professionals
What is more, you can meet and interact with a variety of clients – from global international brands to independent fashion designers. And the best part is that you can learn something new from each of them every day. What I love about the process is that it requires a lot of research, brain work and refining your skills on a daily basis. With fashion, learning from creative people with different views and developing your creativity is part of the work process.
High Turnover Industry
My advice when choosing a specialization is not to go for a very narrow niche as sometimes it can be a challenge to find clients. With fashion and beauty, you will never face this issue as it is one of the biggest industries in the world with huge demand which always needs localization. As per statistics the revenue of the global apparel market was calculated to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022 and it is forecasted to grow. What does this mean? An infinite source of work and revenue for you!
I would say that fashion translation includes a lot of styles. It involves technical knowledge with literary flair which helps you diversify your skillset and be ready to face new challenges. It is a field that is constantly growing, driving change, and advancing. All these facts along with my love for it laid the foundations of my “catwalk” journey in translation!
I hope you enjoyed reading this post! If you would like to share or add anything else, feel free to do it in the comments.
Adriana Nesheva ([email protected]), an English to Bulgarian translator for luxury, beauty and fashion brands.