Fashion Industry Jobs in Atlanta: Where to Find Work, Who’s Hiring, and How to Break In

Atlanta’s fashion scene is growing fast, blending Southern style, streetwear, film and TV costuming, and luxury retail. If you’re looking for fashion industry jobs in Atlanta, there are more opportunities than many people realize—especially when you factor in the city’s booming entertainment industry and strong retail base.

This guide walks through the types of fashion jobs in Atlanta, where they typically exist, how to get started, and local places and programs that can help.

The Fashion Landscape in Atlanta

Atlanta isn’t a traditional “fashion capital” like New York or Paris, but it has several strengths that create real, local job opportunities:

• A large retail and luxury shopping market (Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Perimeter Mall, etc.)
• A huge film and TV industry, which drives demand for costume designers, wardrobe stylists, and shoppers
• A strong entrepreneurial and streetwear culture, with many small brands and boutiques
• Several fashion schools and universities with related programs

For job seekers, this means Atlanta fashion work is often clustered around:

• Retail and luxury sales
• Styling and wardrobe (especially for film, TV, music, and events)
• Costume design and production
• Brand marketing, PR, and social media
• Design, patternmaking, and small-batch production
• Showroom and wholesale sales

Major Types of Fashion Industry Jobs in Atlanta

1. Retail & Luxury Fashion Jobs

These are among the most common entry points into the fashion world in Atlanta.

Typical roles:

• Sales associate / stylist at fashion retailers
• Luxury sales consultant in high-end boutiques or department stores
• Assistant manager / store manager
• Visual merchandiser (window displays, in-store styling)

Common hiring locations include:

• Lenox Square – 3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
• Phipps Plaza – 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
• Perimeter Mall – 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30346
• Atlantic Station – 1380 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30363
• Neighborhood boutiques in Buckhead, West Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Virginia-Highland

These jobs are good for building:

• Customer service and clienteling skills
• Brand knowledge and trend awareness
• Visual merchandising basics
• A local network of stylists, regular clients, and managers

2. Film, TV, and Costume Department Jobs

Because Georgia is a major production hub, Atlanta offers fashion-adjacent work through the film and TV industry.

Common roles include:

• Costume designer / assistant costume designer
• Wardrobe stylist / wardrobe assistant
• Set costumer
• Costume shopper / buyer
• Costume production assistant (PA)

These roles often involve:

• Pulling garments and accessories from rental houses and stores
• Fitting actors and background performers
• Organizing, labeling, and maintaining costumes
• Doing on-set adjustments and continuity checks

A practical way to explore this path:

• Look for production-related job listings tied to Atlanta studios (Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Tyler Perry Studios in southwest Atlanta, etc.)
• Connect with local costumers through industry meetups and film office resources

The Georgia Film Office (through the Georgia Department of Economic Development) maintains information on film production activity and can be a useful starting point to understand the local industry landscape.

3. Fashion Design, Patternmaking & Production

Pure fashion design jobs in Atlanta are fewer than in New York or Los Angeles, but they do exist—especially within smaller brands, uniform companies, activewear, and niche designers.

Roles may include:

• Fashion designer / assistant designer
• Technical designer
• Patternmaker
• Sample maker / production sewing
• Product development coordinator

Many opportunities are found at:

• Small to mid-sized apparel brands based in the Atlanta metro
• Uniform or corporate apparel companies around Norcross, Duluth, and other suburbs
• Independent designers needing help with patternmaking and sewing

Because the market is smaller, a lot of Atlanta-based designers are entrepreneurial, meaning opportunities may come in the form of:

• Contract patternmaking
• Freelance sketching or tech packs
• Small-batch production and alterations

4. Styling, Personal Shopping & Wardrobe Consulting

Atlanta’s image-conscious culture, nightlife, and entertainment scene contribute to a consistent need for stylists.

Types of styling work:

• Personal styling / closet edits for private clients
• On-set wardrobe styling for photoshoots, music videos, commercials
• Red carpet or event styling for local public figures and artists
• Retail-based stylists, often inside luxury stores or boutiques

These roles may be:

• Employed (e.g., in a store or agency)
• Freelance/independent (many stylists build their own clientele)

To get started in Atlanta, many stylists:

• Assist established stylists or wardrobe departments
• Build a portfolio using test shoots with local photographers and models
• Network in creative hubs like Castleberry Hill, West Midtown, and Downtown studio spaces

5. Fashion Marketing, PR & E‑Commerce Roles

Behind every fashion brand or boutique is a need for people who can market and sell online.

Atlanta fashion-related employers often look for:

• Social media managers (especially Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest)
• Content creators and stylists for e‑commerce photoshoots
• Brand managers or marketing coordinators
• Email marketing and CRM specialists
• E‑commerce managers / product upload specialists

Where these jobs show up:

• Local fashion brands and boutiques
• PR and marketing agencies that handle fashion, beauty, or lifestyle accounts
• Retailers with strong online stores

Many Atlanta-based small brands hire on a contract or part-time basis to help with:

• Product photography
• Social captions and content strategy
• Influencer collaborations
• Website product descriptions

6. Fashion Show, Events & Trade-Related Work

Atlanta hosts fashion weeks, runway shows, pop-ups, and trunk shows throughout the year. These events create short-term or part-time roles like:

• Backstage dressers and fit assistants
• Event coordinators / assistants
• Model coordinators / casting assistants
• Front-of-house staff (check-in, seating, guest relations)

While not always full-time, these roles can:

• Build your network
• Give you hands-on backstage experience
• Help you meet designers, stylists, photographers, and brand owners

Keep an eye on event postings and community boards in areas like Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead, where larger event venues and hotels are located.

Common Fashion Career Paths in Atlanta (At a Glance)

Where to Look for Fashion Industry Jobs in Atlanta

1. Local Retail & Mall Directories

Most major malls and shopping centers list job openings through their management offices or on physical job boards.

Key places to check:

• Lenox Square Management Office
  3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
• Phipps Plaza Management Office
  3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
• Perimeter Mall Management Office
  4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30346

You can often:

• Ask the management office where open retail positions are posted
• Visit stores directly with a résumé and ask to speak with a manager

2. Film & TV Job Resources

Because costuming and wardrobe work often runs through the entertainment industry, it helps to understand that ecosystem.

Useful starting points:

• Georgia Film Office (Georgia Department of Economic Development)
  75 5th St NW Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30308
  Phone (main office line is typically publicly available; confirm current contact details through the Georgia state government directory.)

Look for:

• “Crew calls” that mention wardrobe, costume, or set costumer
• Industry job boards that highlight Georgia productions

Many people begin as production assistants (PAs) and work upward into wardrobe departments.

3. Local Fashion Schools & Career Centers

Fashion programs in and around Atlanta often maintain internship lists, job boards, and alum networks.

Examples of institutions with fashion or fashion-adjacent programs include:

• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) – Atlanta Campus
  1600 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
  Offers fashion, accessory design, and related programs. Career services can connect students and alumni with internships, design positions, and industry contacts.

• Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College (Atlanta University Center)
  While not purely fashion schools, students often create fashion clubs, shows, and brand internships through business, marketing, and art programs.

• Other colleges around Atlanta may offer fashion merchandising, marketing, or design certificates and provide local industry connections.

You don’t have to be a student to benefit—some programs host public fashion shows, events, and guest lectures where you can network.

4. Boutiques, Showrooms & Small Brands

Atlanta has many independent boutiques and small labels that hire quietly or through word of mouth.

You’ll find them in areas like:

• Buckhead – luxury boutiques and contemporary fashion
• West Midtown – design-focused shops, creative studios
• Old Fourth Ward / Poncey-Highland – trend-driven boutiques, local brands
• Little Five Points – vintage and alternative fashion

Approach these businesses in person, professionally dressed, with:

• A printed résumé
• A simple lookbook or portfolio (if you have one)
• A clear idea of how you can help (sales, styling, social media, etc.)

5. Temp Agencies & Event Staffing

Some fashion-related event work in Atlanta is organized through:

• Event staffing agencies
• Convention and trade show staffing services
• Modeling and talent agencies that sometimes need stylists, dressers, or wardrobe support

Look for agencies that service:

• Hotel ballrooms (Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead)
• Convention centers (Georgia World Congress Center)
• Major fashion and beauty events

Building a Fashion Career in Atlanta: Practical Steps

Step 1: Choose Your Focus Area

Ask yourself whether you’re most drawn to:

• Retail / luxury client service
• Costume and film/TV wardrobe
• Design and production
• Styling and image consulting
• Marketing, PR, and e‑commerce

You can always change paths later, but a clear starting direction helps you target the right employers and skills.

Step 2: Build a Local-Ready Portfolio or Résumé

For Atlanta fashion jobs, employers often look for:

• Retail:
  • Customer service experience
  • Styling ability (even if informal)
• Film/TV:
  • Any set experience or assistant roles
  • Ability to work long hours and stay organized
• Design/production:
  • Sketches, technical flats, finished garments
  • Understanding of patternmaking and construction
• Styling/PR:
  • A small digital or printed portfolio (before/after looks, shoots you’ve styled, social media content you’ve created)

You don’t need a perfect portfolio to start—just something that clearly shows your eye for fashion and your skills.

Step 3: Use Atlanta’s Physical Spaces to Your Advantage

In addition to online applications, show up in person:

• Visit Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza when stores are less busy and ask about openings.
• Attend public events at SCAD Atlanta and other campuses when permitted.
• Check flyers and community boards in creative neighborhoods like Castleberry Hill, West Midtown, and Old Fourth Ward for castings and creative meetups.

Showing initiative in person can make you stand out in a market where many people only apply online.

Step 4: Network Across Atlanta’s Creative Scene

Fashion jobs in Atlanta are closely tied to music, film, photography, and events. You can grow your opportunities by:

• Working with local photographers on test shoots
• Volunteering backstage at local fashion shows
• Attending gallery openings and creative meetups
• Collaborating with Atlanta-based musicians and influencers on styling projects

Each collaboration becomes something you can show future employers.

Step 5: Be Open to Hybrid or Side Paths

In Atlanta, many successful fashion professionals:

• Work part-time retail and part-time styling, or
• Combine costuming and personal styling, or
• Run a small online shop while assisting designers or working in marketing

This hybrid approach can:

• Keep income steady
• Grow multiple skill sets
• Open doors to unexpected opportunities

What to Expect from Fashion Industry Pay & Hours in Atlanta

While specific numbers vary by role and employer, common patterns include:

• Retail and luxury sales: Often hourly plus potential commission; evenings, weekends, and holidays are common.
• Film/TV wardrobe: Usually project-based; days can be long and irregular but can pay more per day than standard retail.
• Styling and freelance work: Income can fluctuate; often starts modestly and grows with your client base and reputation.
• Corporate or brand-side roles: More traditional schedules (weekdays) but may require previous experience or specialized skills (e.g., Adobe, CAD, CRM tools).

Planning for variable schedules—especially early in your career—is important.

Key Takeaways for Finding Fashion Jobs in Atlanta

• Atlanta offers real fashion opportunities, especially in retail, film/TV costuming, styling, and small-brand design.
• Major hubs like Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, and Perimeter Mall are strong starting points for retail and luxury roles.
• The Georgia film and TV scene supports costume departments that can be a pathway into fashion for screen.
• Local programs and institutions, such as SCAD Atlanta, can provide education, events, and job connections.
• Networking across Atlanta’s creative community—from photographers to musicians—often leads to fashion-related work.

If you live in or are moving to Atlanta, starting with local retail, assisting roles, and event work is often the most realistic way to enter the industry, build experience, and discover which fashion path fits you best.