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Fashion Textiles and Design BA Honours

Textiles are essential to the fashion industry. Our course will teach you all about them through practical and classroom learning.

Fashion Textiles and Design BA Honours

Code
W2T3
Start
October 2023
EU/International induction: September 2023
Duration
3 years full-time
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK) *
£15,100 (EU/INT) *
Course leader
Michelle Wild

On this unique, innovative and diverse course, you will gain the knowledge and skills across both fashion and textiles to become a multi-faceted, multi-skilled and innovative designer.

With advancements in technology and sustainability at the focus of the modern fashion and textile industries, our programme challenges you to innovate through a combination of traditional handcraft and digital design, creating sustainable and socially responsible ways of working.

Why study fashion textiles and design with us?

This course has been designed with your future in mind. Your learning will be split equally between fashion and textile design and production so that you’ll graduate with a wide array of skills, opening up vast and varied employment opportunities across both fashion and textiles. Students will have the opportunity to learn skills across knit, weave, print, embroidery and embellishment, as well as learning to pattern cut and construct garments, producing fashion collections incorporating their own textiles.

We value the future of the fashion and textiles industries, as well as your place within it. That’s why we teach with a focus on sustainability and socially responsible design, encouraging you to be the change-maker of the future. You’ll be taught by specialist tutors and technicians who all continue to work in the fashion and textiles industries, providing invaluable professional links and insider knowledge.

Course Highlights

  • Learn in our state-of the-art Grove building, home to industry-reflective equipment across fashion and textiles, including dobby and digital jacquard looms, screen printing and digital printing, domestic and dubied knitting as well as specialist industrial sewing machines.
  • Benefit from getting industry experience, with a 6-week internship embedded within the 2nd year of study, and the opportunity to take a full year out before 3rd year to complete extensive work placements and gaining an additional Advanced Diploma in Professional Practice.
  • Collaborate with our other fashion programmes, BA Fashion Design, BA Fashion Communication & Styling and BA Fashion Campaigns and Promotion and our other courses across the creative industries.
  • Explore the extremes of your own individual aesthetic, whether that be womenswear, menswear, unisex, gender fluid, plus size – whatever you feel passionate about, we support it.
  • Take part in our Colour Competition Awards (sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Dyers) in which a student at the end of their first, second and third year can win a cash prize for displaying a sensitive and thoughtful use of colour within their fashion and textiles work. One prize is allocated to each year group consisting of £200, £300, and £500.

Year after year our students produce outstanding industry-standard work and leave the course with an impressive portfolio to launch their career. Take a look at some of the work from last year’s graduates on our Creative Graduates 2022 exhibition site.


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What will you study on the BA Fashion Textiles and Design?

You will study a full range of specialist fashion and textiles skills spanning traditional handcraft techniques to state-of-the-art digital technologies, including pattern cutting, construction, screen and digital print, knitting, weaving, embroidery and embellishment. Teaching will be focused throughout on widening your awareness of the fashion and textile industries, both in terms of employment opportunities and also the impact fashion and textiles have socially and environmentally.

Links are consistently made between studio work and contextual studies where subjects explored include: fashion history, gender identity, sustainability, fashion cultures, production, consumption and communication of fashion.

What will you gain?

You’ll learn a range of hard and soft skills that will support your future career in fashion and textiles. As well as creative design skills including visual and theoretical responses to design briefs, you will gain skills in time management, project planning, collaboration and team working, and you will hone your presentation and communication skills.

Modules

  • Year 1

    • Creative Research and Design Process (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module introduces students to the processes involved with being a Fashion and Textiles designer. Research, extracting visual information, observational drawing, creative drape and pattern cutting, sewing, colour theory, fabric, collage and design development skills. It includes inductions to all Level 4 appropriate fashion technical machinery as well as inductions to the library fashion resources and visit(s) to relevant museums / exhibitions within London.

    • Introducing Fashion Textiles Techniques (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module runs throughout the length of the academic year, during which the cohort of students will work by rotation through 3 x seven-week projects, focusing on basic knowledge and skills in knit, weave and surface design (print and embroidery), with an emphasis on a fashion context, underpinned by a design brief which has an overarching consideration of sustainability in all textile areas. It includes inductions to all Level 4 appropriate textile technical machinery.

    • Exploring Fashion and Textiles Design (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained in FSH1030, facilitating students in using their acquired design skills to now create a 3D output. Focus is on sustainable fashion design and production methods, including minimal waste, upcycling and re-working existing garments and materials. Students work collaboratively with a BA Fashion Textiles and Design peer or peers throughout this project and further collaborate with BA Fashion Design and BA Fashion Communication and Styling students to produce an exhibition/show of their work. Work-based and peer learning opportunities are also a part of this module through each student assisting a Level 6 student for 2/3 weeks before their Graduate Fashion Show.

    • Fashion History and Theory (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module introduces students to different ways of looking at and thinking about fashion, providing an introduction to historical sources and narratives as well as key cultural and contextual theories relating to fashion. The module draws connections between fashions from the past and the present to encourage students to understand the rich cultural and social meanings of clothing and adornment. It teaches a broad range of visual and material research methodologies that encourage students to be resourceful and explore different archives and historical collections in a hands-on way. The content of the module aims to complement student’s studio projects and develops their written, oral and visual communication skills. The module provides a broad understanding and questioning of the contexts of Euro-centric fashion history and lays the critical foundations necessary for students to select areas of interest and develop their specialist knowledge when they progress to Level 5.

  • Year 2

    • Developing Fashion and Textiles Design (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at Level 4, now moving into advanced learning across both fashion and textiles, conceptual and technical. Students will focus on their chosen textile specialism and the project brief(s) will bridge across fashion and textiles design, allowing students to produce 2D and 3D outputs with both elements fed in cohesively. There is a focus during this module on 3D realisation of ideas and the digital rendering and communication of those ideas through specialist CAD workshops, as well as inductions to all specialist Level 5 appropriate fashion and textile machinery and resources. From the start of Level 5, there is a focus on the development of professional communication skills, so all students will be expected to present their work visually and verbally in front of their tutors and peers

    • Fashion Textiles and Design in Context (30 credits) - Compulsory

      When students return from their Industry Placement, this module continues to develop and enhance students’ research, design and development skills within a contemporary fashion context, as well as widening their awareness of the fashion industry and their potential role in it. There is a focus on detail and quality of technical outputs through both textiles and fashion, by concentrating on the development of samples alongside development of fashion context ideas. Advanced technical workshops run alongside group and one-to-one tutorials. Group workshops in fashion production methods and in some cases using specialist fashion CAD design technologies advance students’ skills whilst broadening their understanding of sustainable design methodologies.

    • Fashion Textiles and Design Industry Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module runs throughout the academic year but is full-time from Week 12-18 when students complete an Industry Work Placement. Knowledge and understanding of professional practice is developed and support in preparation for internships takes place from Week 1 of Level 5, through a series of group workshops focusing on writing CVs and cover letters, making contacts within industry and confidence building in presentation and interview skills. Students are expected to identify designers and/or studios appropriate to them and make applications independently but are facilitated and supported throughout with the aforementioned workshops as well as one-to-one tutoring. Students have previously completed internships at a range of designer studios including: Alexander McQueen, Matty Bovan, Mary Katrantzou, Simone Rocha and Richard Quinn.

      Upon return from their internships, students are required to present their experience visually and verbally in a group presentation, and reflect on the variety of companies within the industry, including market level, structure and job roles. Follow up support workshops focusing on industry practice, to help the student produce an analytical, effective and exciting record of their work experience and insights into industry. The aim of the module is to give students the opportunity for work-based learning as well as for them to develop their own projected path within the industry. Outputs include: research boards, learning journals and verbal presentations with visual aids.

    • Fashion Culture and Industry (30 credits) - Compulsory

      In this module, ‘Fashion Culture and Industry’, students will build upon the core academic research and communication skills introduced in the 'Fashion History and Theory' module at Level 4. Students develop and expand their specialist knowledge and understanding of critical issues in contemporary and historical fashion, and relate this to the production, consumption and mediation of fashion as a global aspect of both culture and industry. Throughout the year we will cover key economic, social and theoretical concepts, and explore how they influence the material, visual and consumer culture of fashion. Students are encouraged to challenge dominant historical narratives of fashion, and unpick fashion's mythologies from a global perspective. Students will develop their own independent research interests in contemporary fashion culture and industry, and expand their critical awareness of the fashion industry, which will help them to position their own creative work in an ethically-informed and culturally competent manner.

  • Year 3

    • Fashion Textiles and Design: Industry Work Placement (120 credits) - Optional

      This module is optional and runs the length of an academic year, allowing students further opportunities for work-based learning before they start their final modules in Level 6. Building on from the knowledge and skills developed at Level 5, students are expected to work with a degree of autonomy in identifying and securing an industry work placement or placements appropriate to their own personal and professional development. The aim of the module is to utilise the work experience to provide an in-depth insight into the work methods and operation of a fashion business or freelance role in the field of fashion design, textile design and / or production. This provides potential a greater understanding of industry practice before final modules are undertaken, and potential for further experience or employment after graduating.

    • Fashion & Textiles Final Major Project and Portfolio (90 credits) - Compulsory

      Consolidate all your previous learning to produce individual and creative fashion and textile responses to personal research and concepts across this year-long module. Explore individual identity, aesthetic and interests through a self-directed project, resulting in the development and production of a final collection of textiles and garments and a professional standard portfolio
      You will be encouraged to focus your output by choosing to produce work as a ‘fashion textiles designer’ or a ‘textiles for fashion’ designer and you will learn the practical, creative and personal skills to confidently present your work to industry and pursue a career in fashion and / or textiles.

    • Contextual Studies Research Project (30 credits) - Compulsory

      This module runs throughout the academic year, parallel to the studio modules. Building on skills embedded at Levels 4 and 5, the module focuses on identifying and developing research, as well as conducting critical enquiry and reflection into an area of fashion and textiles of the students’ own choosing, in order to further underpin and contextualise their studio practice. The Contextual Studies Research Project module is supported by a series of lectures, skill-based workshops, reading groups and tutorials. It will give you time and space to identify an individual research topic and question; organize research; identify and evaluate the quality of existing secondary research (bodies of existing literature); apply primary research qualitative and quantitative methods (archive research, critical analysis of visual / aural / material sources, conducting interviews and questionnaires); develop an argument; manage time; actively engage with tutorial dialogues and feedback; and develop ideas and express them critically through written, visual,  and oral outputs.

More information about this course

See the course specification for more information:

Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

  1. Overview
  2. Teaching and learning
  3. Assessment and feedback
  1. Standard entry requirements
  2. International (inc. EU)
  3. Interview and portfolio
  4. How to apply
  1. UK
  2. International (inc. EU)
  3. Additional costs

Instagram

Follow us on Instagram for degree highlights including student work shows and upcoming events.

Look Book

Take a look at this years Look Book to see a showcase of our students work.

Degree Show

The photography work that our students create is world-class. Each year, our final year students exhibit their work at our Degree Fashion Show. You can watch previous shows below.

How can the BA Fashion Textiles and Design support your career ?

The BA Fashion Textiles & Design course is designed to support your future career developments, preparing you for a successful career in the Fashion and Textile industries.

Graduates from our fashion courses have forged successful and lucrative careers in fashion, textiles, art direction, styling, pattern cutting, sample machining, illustration and associated areas. We have many successful alumni working for brands such as Alexander McQueen, Zandra Rhodes, Christopher Raeburn, Martine Rose, Sadie Williams, H&M, Fenwicks and Net-A-Porter, as well as designers forging careers designing under their own names and receiving press from Vogue, Dazed, Wonderland, iD and Love Magazine.

Our graduates have also progressed onto further studies, completing Masters Degrees at Central St Martins, Royal College of Art, Chelsea College of Art, Westminster University and Kingston University.

Throughout your course you will have access to our fully-equipped fashion and textiles studios as well as art and design workshops. This means you can also use photography and reprographics, for example, to help realise your ideas.

Our facilities are state-of-the-art and include silk screen printing, digital printing direct to cloth, traditional and electronic looms and industry-standard knitting machines.

Our varied and extensive library supports your research with an extensive book collection, wonderful collections of film, databases, the most up to date and archived journals and magazines, and a museum quality collection of 3D pieces including historical dress and accessories.

Teodora Mitrovska
Graduate Academic Assistant

Teodora, our Graduate Academic Assistant, graduated from Middlesex in 2018 and after showing her collection during the MDX Graduate Fashion Show at the Barbican, she received press from Hunger Magazine, Vogue CZ, FGUK Magazine, L’Officiel and Fucking Young. She then went on to show a collection of menswear at Fashion Weekend Skopje, as well as presenting a full collection at Lisbon Fashion Week.

Jodie Ruffle
Programme Leader of BA Fashion Textiles and Design

Jodie studied BA (Hons) Fashion at Middlesex University, beginning her career with an internship at Jonathan Saunders before going on to work at Alexander McQueen and creating costumes for the National Youth Ballet, among many other career highlights.

"I work with second and third year students and being able to spend two years with them, teaching them new skills and seeing them develop as designers and young adults, is really rewarding. Knowing you are sending talented, mature and skilful students out into the world gives you a huge sense of pride in your work.

"We offer a huge range of facilities, from the traditional, like weaving looms, domestic knitting machines and screen printing, right up to the most cutting edge including laser cutting, digital embroidery and 3D printing – all supported by technicians with really advanced knowledge and experience. There is an incredible amount of specialised machinery and staff across the School of Art and Design and anyone from any course can utilise this, producing skilled and well-rounded students ready to enter the industry."

Wakako Kishimoto
Lecturer in Fashion Textiles and Design: Print

Wakako, our Print Tutor, is one half of the world renowned print duo Eley Kishimoto, who have produced print designs for Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Alber Elbaz and Jil Sander to name a few, as well as collaborations with BMW, Eastpack and Macbook Accessories. Eley Kishimoto’s work has spanned fashion and interiors as well as art installation, and their infamous ‘flash print’ has featured on London cross roads and architecture throughout the past decade.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

Other courses

Fashion Design BA Honours

Start: September 2023, EU/International induction: September 2023

Duration: 3 years full-time

Code: WFH0

Fashion Communication and Styling BA Honours

Start: October 2023, EU/International induction: September 2023

Duration: 3 years full-time

Code: WF30

Foundation Year in Fashion

Start: October 2023, EU/International induction: September 2023

Duration: 1 year, + 3 years full-time

Code: See how to apply

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