How to Write a Fashion & Creative Industry CV
Why This Guide Is Different
Most CV guides are written for corporate roles. This one is written specifically for Nigeria’s fashion and creative industry — where portfolios matter more than degrees, where practical experience often trumps formal qualifications, and where cultural fit with a brand’s aesthetic is a real selection criterion.
A fashion CV in Nigeria must do three things immediately: show you understand the industry, show you can deliver results, and make a visually clean impression. Anything less loses the opportunity.
The Fashion CV — What's Different
Most CV guides are written for corporate roles. This one is written specifically for Nigeria’s fashion and creative industry — where portfolios matter more than degrees, where practical experience often trumps formal qualifications, and where cultural fit with a brand’s aesthetic is a real selection criterion.
A fashion CV in Nigeria must do three things immediately: show you understand the industry, show you can deliver results, and make a visually clean impression. Anything less loses the opportunity.
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CORPORATE CV
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FASHION & CREATIVE CV
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Education leads
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Portfolio link leads — on line 1
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Job titles emphasised
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Skills and deliverables emphasised
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Formal language
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Clear, direct, personality visible
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3 pages acceptable
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1–2 pages maximum
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References listed
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Portfolio and links replace references initially
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Objective statement
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Professional summary with niche and value prop
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Generic 'team player'
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Specific: 'Womenswear Production | Lagos & Abuja'
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Section-by-Section Guide
- Header
Name, city (not full address), phone, email, and — most importantly — a portfolio link. Include Instagram handle only if it reflects your professional work. The portfolio link is non-negotiable for any creative or design role.
Format: Use a clean, uncluttered header. Name in bold at 14–16pt. All other details at 10–11pt. No photo unless explicitly requested.
- Professional Summary (3–4 Lines Maximum)
This is your pitch. It should answer: What is your specific niche? What is your level? What kind of brands have you served or want to serve? What is your signature strength?
EXAMPLE FOR A PRODUCTION PROFESSIONAL:’Production-focused fashion professional with 4 years experience managing garment manufacturing across woven and knit categories for mid-to-premium Nigerian brands. Track record of reducing sample turnaround by 40% while maintaining 98% quality pass rates. Now seeking a production manager role within a brand with export ambitions.’EXAMPLE FOR A CREATIVE:’Lagos-based wardrobe stylist specialising in editorial and commercial fashion with a client portfolio across beauty brands, music videos, and print campaigns. Known for precision sourcing, strong directorial instincts, and ability to execute on tight timelines.’
- Key Skills
List 8–12 specific, relevant skills. In the fashion industry this might include: CLO3D, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, pattern drafting, Shopify, trend analysis, WSSI, fabric sourcing, supplier negotiation, studio management, talent coordination, event styling.
Never list generic qualities like ‘hardworking’ or ‘team player’ as skills. These belong in your summary, and only if they are backed by evidence.
- Work Experience — The Most Important Section
For every role, write 2–3 bullet points focused on what CHANGED because of your work. Use numbers wherever possible. In Nigeria’s fashion industry, employers are looking for evidence of real, practical impact.
- Education & Professional Training
In Nigeria’s fashion industry, practical training carries significant weight. A FADAN certificate, a Bridge Institute completion, a CLO3D bootcamp, or a visual merchandising course can outweigh a generic degree for many roles.
List all relevant qualifications — formal and informal — in reverse chronological order. Include: institution, qualification name, year, and any notable project or grade.
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WEAK (NEVER WRITE THIS)
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STRONG (ALWAYS AIM FOR THIS)
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'Assisted the design team'
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'Contributed 12 original sketches to SS2025 collection, 4 of which were selected for production'
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'Handled customer queries'
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'Managed customer communications for a 2,000-customer retail base, achieving 94% satisfaction rate'
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'Responsible for sourcing'
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'Sourced alternative fabric supplier reducing unit cost by 18% while maintaining quality standard'
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'Worked on marketing campaigns'
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'Led Instagram campaign that grew brand following from 8K to 22K in 90 days with ₦0 ad spend'
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'Managed the team'
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'Managed a team of 6 across design and production, delivering 3 collections on time and on budget'
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- Portfolio — The Clincher
Every application must include a portfolio link. Options include: Behance, a personal website, a Google Drive folder (with permission set to ‘anyone with the link’), a curated Instagram profile, or a Canva presentation link.
Quality Rule: 5 excellent portfolio pieces beat 20 mediocre ones. Curate ruthlessly. Every item in your portfolio should represent your best, most relevant work.
Fashion CV Dos and Don'ts
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DO
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DON'T
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Lead with your portfolio link
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Lead with your secondary school qualification
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Name your specific niche clearly
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Describe yourself vaguely as a 'fashion lover'
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Quantify results in every job
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List responsibilities without outcomes
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Tailor every CV to the specific brand
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Send identical CVs to every application
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Use one clean, readable font (Fira Sans, Helvetica, Garamond)
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Use multiple fonts and decorative typefaces
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Keep to 1–2 pages
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Pad with irrelevant experience to fill pages
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Include short courses and certifications
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Omit non-degree training you are proud of
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NIGERIAN-SPECIFIC NOTE: Many Nigerian fashion employers will look up your Instagram and LinkedIn before they read your CV in full. Your social media presence is your first impression. Make sure what they find supports what your CV claims.
FILLABLE CV TEMPLATE
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