FASHION & TEXTILES

Why choose Fashion & Textiles?

This is arguably one of the most interesting times to study Fashion & Textiles. Consumers are no longer dictated to, nor slavishly follow a handful of haute couture fashion figures. Today anything goes and emerging new talents are a constant feature of the London fashion world and across the world.

This is a creative and thought-provoking qualification and gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in many careers.

A global recession and an emphasis on recycling means vintage clothing has been pushed to the forefront and with it a renewed appreciation for historical colours, prints and designs.

Globalisation, cheap travel and easy communication facilities mean the exchange of ideas and inspirations has never been easier or faster. The study of Textiles is exciting and challenging. Students work with a range of different materials and produce original, experimental work, whether printing on silk or making toiles from paper.

Exam Board: AQA

Course details

Exams:

  • Paper 1 Technical Principles 30%
  • Paper 2 Design and Making Principles 20%
  • Non-Exam Assessment – Design and Make Project. 50%

Students gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by Higher Education and employers.

This academic course will give you an insight into Fashion and Textiles and the wider roles of a professional designer. The work produced involves creative innovative design ideas, problem solving and working in various media including Computer Aided Design, embroidery, and pattern adaptation. Students will learn about the history of design, design influences, commercial practices, and materials and their properties.

Higher Education and career options

The UK’s thriving fashion industry makes a huge contribution to the economy. It is worth 9 billion and is set to increase. Creative Industries are the country’s second biggest employer and employment in the sector is growing year on year. Students who have studied Fashion and Textiles have gone on to university to study the subject, but this course can also lead to many opportunities in higher education and modern apprenticeships in design-related industries and beyond. Students who have studied A Level fashion & Textiles have gone on to study the following courses: Architecture, Furniture Design, Silversmithing and Marketing, as well as more obvious ones like Textile Design, Fashion Buying and Merchandising, Fashion Communication, Fashion Branding & Fashion Design and Retail Management.

Related subjects

Art, Business Studies, Maths, Photography, Sciences, Sociology.