Do you want to work at the forefront of the fashion and textile industry? This BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles course combines new technologies with traditional techniques and methods. This enables you to develop your own creative style and design identity, whilst learning the hands-on skills you’ll need for success in your chosen career.
With BNU you’ll explore creativity, innovative thinking, and contemporary approaches to the creation of textiles for fashion – all whilst putting together your own collection and employer-ready portfolio.
Why study BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles at BNU?
Top-ranked
Throughout your time on the course you will have the opportunity to show off your work through international competitions and shows, including British Fashion Council reviews and the BNU Summer Show.
Our students and graduates are also highly rated. Some of our student success includes winning a British Fashion Council scholarship, being shortlisted for Real Leather. Stay Different. International Design Competition, being a runner up for New Designers collaboration award with OPPO and being shortlisted for the Artsthread /Gucci award.
Best of both worlds
Covering both disciplines of fashion and textiles you’ll explore creative problem-solving strategies and techniques in pattern cutting, manufacturing, textile and fashion processes and materials, and a clear understanding of how these can be applied to realise a unique fashion product.
Upon graduation you’ll have the skills and knowledge you’ll need to face the constantly evolving industry with new technologies, ways of working and changing customer values and expectations. This maximises your career and postgraduate opportunities.
Industry-level facilities
We are extremely proud to be able to offer industry-standard studios, technical machines and high-quality equipment to our fashion and textile-based courses.
You will master materials, both through traditional methods and using digital software. This includes an in-house fabric and yarn store, screen printing facilities, a dye laboratory and sewing and garment production facilities.
In our professional-working studio you’ll have you own workspace which you’ll be able to turn into your own personal area, where you can bring your designs to life and surround yourself with inspiration.
We also have specialist technicians and demonstrators on site to support and share their knowledge with you, when and if you need it.
As well as this you may also have the chance to access to our photography studios where you’ll be able to work collaboratively with photography and hair and make-up students to build your portfolio, and network like you would in the industry.
Taught by industry
Led by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. You’ll get direct access to guest lectures, who are specialists in the sector, and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and networking opportunities.
As part of the Art, Design and Performance School at BNU, you’ll benefit from a practiced-based course, supported by contextual studies. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the school with other courses, ensuring during your studies you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world.
Connections
You could also benefit from masterclasses and industry brief opportunities, where you’ll gain an insight and feedback from current industry-leaders. For previous projects, we've collaborated with Alexander McQueen Studio, Chittleborough and Morgan, Mackintosh, Burberry, Topshop and Armani, Stella McCartney, Mint Velvet, New Star, British Fashion Council, UKFT and many more.
Our High Wycombe Campus is only a short train ride away from London, meaning you are only a stones-throw away from the hustle and bustle - enabling you to visit exhibitions, galleries, shows and watch emerging styles, to help you gain inspiration and ideas.
What will I study?
Fashion and Textiles is one of the largest sectors world-wide and continues to offer exciting and rewarding opportunities globally. At the core of this fashion and textile degree are creativity, innovative thinking, and an exploration of contemporary approaches to the creation of fashion and textiles.
This fast-paced course will teach you how to excel at every step of the design and creation process, from concept, construction through to final creation. You’ll gain comprehensive hands-on experience, specialist technical skills, knowledge and professional understanding to work as practitioners in the fashion and textiles industry.
During your time with us, you’ll be introduced to different textile specialisms, along with the core technical and design foundations required for fashion design. These specialisms include knitwear, print and surface design for fashion. As you go through the course, you will continue to develop your understanding and practice of these specialisms, eventually focusing on one chosen specialism in preparation for your final year of study.
This engaging course which allows the designer to work with a variety of different elements including colour, materials, pattern, structure, and composition. All of which helps you to create a capsule fashion collection based on your chosen specialism or create textile samples for a specific market.
Upon graduating from this fashion and textiles design degree you’ll have developed your aesthetic style, which will then lead on to the completion of a final capsule collection, and an industry ready portfolio and promotion package - all of which is shown at our end of year summer show, which both industry and friends are invited too.
This fashion and textiles design course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.
