What is Knitwear Design: Knitwear design is a niche fashion discipline dedicated to the development of garments and accessories made from knitted cloth, like sweaters, scarves, and cardigans. Understanding what is knitwear design enables candidates to investigate this career and learn about the categories of knitwear fabrics, skills needed for knitwear designers, and what career paths in knitwear design have become available.
NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, etc., are premier colleges for knitwear design courses. Pay in knitwear design varies from Rs 3 to 6 lakhs and grows with experience in the field. Knitwear design differs from standard fashion design in that it focuses on the particular properties and trends of knitted fabrics. The field integrates creativity with technical expertise regarding yarn behavior, stitch patterns, and garment construction to create comfortable and fashionable knitwear.
Candidates interested in knowing what is knitwear design can go through the following table for information on this design category. Knitwear designer courses are available at the UG and PG levels by prominent design institutes. The course fee is between Rs 5,000 and Rs 13 Lakh.
What is Knitwear Design - An Overview | |
Parameters | Course Details |
Course Level | UG, PG, Diploma, and Certification |
Course Duration | UG: 3 - 4 Years, PG: 2 Years |
Course Eligibility | Undergraduate: 10+2 from a recognised boardPostgraduate: A bachelor's degree from a recognised board |
Entrance Exams | NIFT Entrance Exam |
Design Course Fee | INR 5,000 - 13 Lakh |
Design Top Colleges | NIFT, AAFT, Netaji Subhas Open University, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, J.D. Birla Institute, etc. |
Designer Salary | INR 4 LPA |
Course Job Profiles | Knitwear Designer, Trend Forecaster, Costume Designer, Merchandiser, Textile Designer, etc. |
Course Top Recruiters | Raymonds, Omega Designs, Pantaloon, Shahi Exports, Spykar, Uni Style India, Arvind Garments, Levi's, Madura Garments, etc. |
Knitwear Fabrics are divided into various fabrics depending on their knitting method and composition. General types of knitwear fabrics are Jersey knit, Rib knit, French Terry knit, Fleece knit, etc. Each variety of knitwear fabric differs in weight, texture, and stretch. The following are the general types of knitwear fabrics for the reference of candidates:
Types of Knitwear Fabrics | |
Knitwear Fabrics | Characteristics |
Jersey Knit | Stretchy fabric, lightweight, smooth front, textured back |
Rib Knit | Smooth surface, structured garments, double-knit fabric, thicker |
French Terry Knit | Moisture-wicking and comfortable, knit fabric with loops |
Fleece Knit | Durable fabric, warm, suitable for activewear and winter clothing |
Purl Knit | Less stretchy, textured, used for sweaters and scarves |
Knitwear designers need a combination of technical skill and creativity to design fashion as well as functional knitted apparel. For pursuing knitwear designing, candidates should have expertise in fabric behavior, sketching, computer-aided design, and the like. A few of the basic skills for a knitwear designer are stated below.
Institutes offering knitwear design courses include NIFT Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and other private design schools. These schools educate students on the knitting process, garment construction, and prepare them to play many other roles in the knitwear sector. The course fee is between Rs 5 and 12 LPA for the whole course.
Aspirants can check the table to gain insights into the best institutes offering knitwear design courses:
Institutes for Knitwear Design Courses | |
Institutes Names | Tuition Fee |
NIFT Delhi | INR 12.34 Lakh |
NIFT Bangalore | INR 5.63 - 12.34 Lakh |
NIFT Mumbai | INR 12.34 Lakh |
NIFT Chennai | INR 9.02 - 12.34 Lakh |
NIFT Hyderabad | INR 6.07 - 12.34 Lakh |
NIFT Gandhinagar | INR 5.86 Lakh |
Netaji Subhas Open University | INR 15,000 |
Pondicherry University | INR 50,273 |
NIFT Kolkata | INR 5.45 - 12.34 Lakh |
AAFT | INR 1.55 Lakh |
Apparel Training and Design Centre | INR 25,000 |
IIFD Chandigarh | INR 1.75 Lakh |
IIFD Kolkata | INR 1.75 Lakh |
Knitwear design career opportunities are varied and widening over the years. With the fashion and textile industries being upscaled, there have been vast employment opportunities for graduates, including knitwear buyers, stylists, and entrepreneurs.
With knowledge in both aesthetic and technical skills, knitwear designers find increasing demand in apparel production centers and export markets. Knitwear designers may also work with famous brands or as merchandisers who deal with business operations such as stock, marketing, and trend forecasting.
The typical pay in knitwear design is Rs 4 lakhs annually, and the monthly income about Rs 36,000 to Rs 37,000. Pay in knitwear design depends upon experience, abilities, firm's reputation, and locality. Candidates interested in knowing what is knitwear design and its salary opportunities can refer to the following table:
Salary in Knitwear Design | |
Job Profiles | Salary Range |
Knitwear Designer | Rs. 3 LPA to Rs. 6 LPA |
Merchandiser Designer | Rs. 4 LPA to Rs. 9 LPA |
Product Developer | Rs. 5 LPA to Rs. 12 LPA |
Design Lead | Rs. 9 LPA to Rs. 16 LPA |
Creative Director | Rs. 25 LPA |