This highly creative award-winning course will equip you with everything you need for a successful career within the exciting and past-paced textiles industry. You will develop practical technical skills such print, illustration, technical drawings, computer aided design (CAD), laser cutting, constructed textiles, Trend Forecasting and surface pattern design. You will regularly take part in national and international live competition briefs and build a creative, professional portfolio that can be used for job interviews or further study.
Entry requirements
To begin this course you will need a Higher National Certificate in Fashion and Textiles.
Entry is subject to a successful interview, where you will be asked to bring along a portfolio of your existing work. We welcome mature students to apply, providing they have a relevant industry or creative background (please contact us for more details).
Course content
During this course you will study the following units:
- Professional Development
- Contextual Studies
- Individual Project (Theme set by Pearson)
- Techniques and Processes for Fashion & Textiles
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Fashion & Textiles Practices
- Pattern cutting & garment making
- Fashion Collection
Assessment methods
You will work with a range of specialist lecturers, including practising designers, in well-equipped studios and workshops. Project briefs are set for each assignment, and you are encouraged to develop a personal response to each task. All activities are supported through one-to-one tutorials and group discussions to inform you of personal progress and to aid assessment. Assessment is continuous throughout the course, with assignments graded at the end of each task.
Qualifications
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Art and Design (Textiles)
Further study and career options
On successful completion of the HND you will have the option to top up the qualification to a full Bachelor’s degree at university or enter employment. Roles in the industry include: Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Fashion Illustrator, Pattern Cutter, Production Manufacturer, Garment Technologist, Colourist, Garment technologist, Fashion Buyer, Fashion Merchandiser, Trend Forecaster, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Promotion, Teacher.
Additional information
Our dedicated and experienced staff work closely with you in small groups or on a one to one basis whilst nurturing and fostering your confidence to allow for autonomy. Our staff are all practising designers and makers with a variety of fashion and textiles industry experience. They have worked closely with fashion houses such as Christian Lacroix, Jasper Conran, Nina Ricci, Ungaro, Chanel and produced collections for celebrities such as Alexandra Burke and many West End shows.
Our award-winning course will provide you with the opportunity to develop your own industry network through internships and national and international competitions. Each year, students have the opportunity to enter live competitions and many of our students have been shortlisted and won prestigious awards.
Project 20/20 and beyond was part of the Professional Clothing Awards “Industry Recognised Category” for 2017, that looked at recognising emerging talents and design innovation in our industry from fashion students of leading fashion and textiles universities around the country. Hundreds of entries were submitted nationally and Bedford College students Abby Simpson, Sarah Davis and Megan Schneider, and took 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize with Bedford College taking the prize for overall winning university.
You will have the opportunity to visit galleries, trade shows such and trend forecasting events at home and abroad for example in London, Florence, Milan, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, New York and Berlin. Our students also take part in a yearly fashion show and exhibit their work at the South Bank Arts Centre.
Additional costs
- Provision of basic fashion and textiles equipment such as sketchbooks, drawing equipment, hand sewing needles, quality scissors and any additional consumable materials such as fabrics and specialist threads, demanded by personal project requirements.
- Resource fee of £150 to cover: printing binders, specialist procion dyes, specialist printing pigments, screen emulsion and A1 cartridge paper.
- Train fares for visits by train to London (normally up to two a year).
- A digital camera and portable external hard drive/USB stick would be advantageous but are not essential.
Pay by instalments
The College offers an instalment plan for Further Education and Higher Education courses to students where the total amount payable at the point of enrolment is £200 or more. Within the scheme there is an ability to pay up to 7 instalments, depending on the length of the courses and the final payment must be paid at least a month before the end of the course.