Fashion & Textiles

This course will provide you with a strong understanding of the fundamentals of fashion and textile design including materials, concepts, influences and communication.

You will gain essential vocational skills for future employment and progression to university by responding to challenging assignments and meeting deadlines. You will produce garments and textile designs which will be presented on the catwalk and in exhibitions. There will also be opportunities to visit galleries and museums in order to contextualise your studies.

The course will allow you to build a portfolio which will include practical projects and contextual studies in the form of sketch and notebook work. You will take part in projects set by local or national companies including costume design for theatre productions and surface pattern designs for soft furnishings. An end of year show will also provide you with the rewarding opportunity to exhibit your work to the public.

Work is project based and presented in sketchbooks and a portfolio which is showcased in an end-of-year static exhibition and fashion catwalk show. You are assessed and supported throughout the two year course with regular reviews, formative and final assessment gaining a pass, merit or distinction.

You will need to have achieved a minimum of three GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and maths, or completed Art and Design Level 2 at merit grade. You will also need to provide a sketchbook or portfolio of artwork which could be fashion design, photography, art, design and/or textiles to bring to your interview.

You can progress to study FdA Fashion and Textiles, FdA Professional Photographic Practice, FdA Creative Arts for Health and Wellbeing, BA (Hons) Visual Arts or FdA Visual Effects and Post Production through the University of Suffolk at East Coast College or other universities.

You can also go onto an apprenticeship or employment in careers such as fashion and textile designer, furniture designer, set designer, surface pattern designer, visual merchandiser, interiors, costume designer, pattern cutter and fashion promotion.