Textile Design is a technical yet creative profession in the fashion and apparel world that includes designing patterns, weaves, prints, and textures for fabrics. Textile designers design for a variety of industries like fashion, home furnishings, automobile, and industry fabrics. The job positions in the field may range from Print Designer, Fabric Analyst, CAD Textile Designer, Fashion Fabric Designer, Embroidery Designer, to Textile Merchandiser and Textile Technologist.
The salary of a textile designer varies based on educational qualification, skill set, design talent, software skills (Photoshop, Illustrator, CAD), experience, industry, and location. The beginning designer usually earns between INR 2.5 lakh and INR 4.5 lakh per year. Experienced designers with 2–5 years of experience could earn approximately INR 5–8 lakh per year. At higher levels, textile designers or creative directors can earn from INR 12 lakh to INR 25 lakh or more per year, particularly at top fashion houses or export companies.
Textile Designer Salary: Experience-Wise
The table below includes various textile designer roles along with their average annual salary, based on the years of experience:
Textile Designer Salary after Different Levels of Study
The education level greatly impacts salary expectations, particularly for those who have pursued B.Des Textile Design or similar specialized programs from reputed design institutes. The table below includes job roles based on the level of education:
Also, Read about BSc Fashion Design
Textile Designer Salary as per Designation
The designation within a company or firm also defines the salary. Here is the table of some of the job designations in the textile design field:
Textile Designer Salary in Some Top Cities
Salaries of textile designers vary based on location due to the regional industry presence and cost of living.
Textile Designer Salary in Abroad Countries
Textile design professionals can also explore opportunities abroad. Here is the salary of some of the job roles abroad.
Skills Required in Textile Designing
Textile designers develop a versatile set of creative and technical skills that are valuable across industries:
- Proficiency in Design Software like Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, NedGraphics, and CAD tools.
- Knowledge of printing, dyeing, and weaving techniques.
- Ability to understand current fashion trends.
- Ability to create new and original textile patterns and textures.
- Knowledge of different fabrics.
- Ability to work with other stakeholders.
Textile Designer Salary FAQs
Does a graduation degree from a premier design institute affect the salary of a textile designer?
Yes, students graduating from premier institutes such as NID, NIFT, and Pearl Academy tend to get better initial packages and placements in good companies or fashion houses.
Which are the most paying industries for textile designers?
Export houses, global fashion labels, car textile design, and luxury home furnishing companies give the best pay to trained textile designers. Pay in these companies will be minimal for freshers since experience is the ticket to high pay.
Can a textile designer freelance or develop their own label?
Yes. Most textile designers prefer to freelance or start their own brand/studio once they have acquired some experience and exposure to the industry. It is quite a prevalent trend among designers.
What is the future scope of textile design in India?
With increased demand for sustainable and innovative textiles, smart fabrics, and digitalised fashion, opportunities for textile designers are increasing in India and around the world. There will always be a need for these kinds of designers.
Is experience greater than qualifications in this case?
Qualifications provide a good beginning, but practical experience, good portfolio, and current design skills tend to contribute more to long-term salary increases and achievement.
What is the initial salary for a textile designer in India?
The initial pay for a textile designer in India is usually between INR 2.5 lakh to INR 4.5 lakh per year, considering education level, quality of portfolio, and the company that hires.
Are textile designers paid higher in the fashion industry or the home furnishing industry?
Fashion designers usually receive higher remunerations in the fashion sector, particularly when they are handling quality or luxury brands. But veteran designers in the home furnishing field, particularly in export companies, can also receive decent pay scales.
