Fashion and Textiles Design

Intro 

Fashion is changing fast. Become part of the next generation of fashion designers, armed with all the key skills you need to succeed in this multimillion-pound industry. If you have an eye for colour, texture and shape, can spot and develop trends, and are keen to learn the technical skills to create your own clothes, then this course is your next step. You’ll develop an excellent portfolio of work under guidance from our expert lecturers and have loads of opportunities to get involved in events, exhibitions and catwalks!

What you’ll learn 

You’ll learn the fundamental skills and knowledge to start building a career in fashion. From the initial stages of development, you’ll bring your designs to life and develop technical skills like pattern cutting and sewing. You’ll learn the full production processes, hone your drawing skills and work using computer design packages to create your designs. Creating a range of garments and accessories, you’ll have loads of chances to get to work with different fabrics, understanding how they can be used, and become fluent in promoting your designs and concepts.

Throughout this course you’ll learn:

• Fashion research, development and design
• Illustration, patterns and garment manufacture
• Methods to promote your designs and concepts
• Commercial awareness

You’ll also get plenty of opportunity to learn core skills that will impress employers, working as part of a team, solving problems, and communication. You’ll create a full portfolio of your design work ready for your next steps, whether that’s higher education or employment. 

Highlights 

• Undertake a work experience week in both years of study. This includes participating in a competition brief or gaining a placement externally. Recently students have worked with local designers Beatrice Von Treskow and Holland Cooper
• Trips to major fashion exhibitions in cities such as London, Birmingham, Bristol & Oxford. 
• Guest speakers from specialist backgrounds within fashion & textiles
• Dedicated equipment which includes MacBooks, iPad/apple pencils, a 3D printer, laser cutter screen-printing equipment, domestic and industrial machinery
• Independence to explore ideas and individual creative approaches, specialising in your own chosen discipline within fashion and textiles
• Large, light fashion studios

Assessment 

You’ll take part in live assessment briefs throughout the course and showcase your work in catwalks and fashion shows.

Anything else?  

There is an events fee charged at the outset of the course. This covers the end of year show, two mandatory trips and the cost of visiting guest lecturers and workshops.

You’ll normally spend 4 days a week in college, and benefit from a weekly pastoral session with a student mentor for any additional support.

At Gloucestershire College we want students to develop their English and Maths skills so that they achieve their learning goals and future career aims. For this reason, all full-time students (16-18) who have not achieved grade 4 or above English language or maths GCSE will study these subjects as part of their course.

You’ll also develop additional employability and work-based skills through our Which Three Skills programme.