BA (Hons) Fashion (Full Time)

Covering the essential skills demanded by the fashion industry, this course offers specialist pathways in Design and Development or Promotion and Communication.

Course overview

This course allows you the freedom to develop skills in a range of areas, depending on your own interests and intended career pathway. You can focus on one of two specialist pathways: Fashion Design and Development or Fashion Promotion and Communication.

The Fashion Design and Development pathway covers garment construction and design. You will be encouraged to consider the whole process, from the generation of creative concepts to the realisation of wearable fashion products. Teaching will include pattern-cutting and relevant IT skills.

The Fashion Promotion and Communication pathway concentrates on communicating and promoting fashion design through illustration, fashion forecasting, styling, fashion writing, buying and merchandising. Teaching will include digital photographic technique and relevant IT skills (In Design, Illustrator and Photoshop).

Students will consider both designer and high street markets and will develop an awareness of fashion industry practice. 

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Industrial focus

The focus of all Solent Fashion courses is on employability, encouraging students to take part in work experience and live projects, in conjunction with industry partners. 

Course content

Year 1

You will undertake a structured study programme and, dependent on the pathway, you will learn:

Design and Development pathway:

• Design research
• Illustration
• Pattern cutting
• Garment development
• Trend analysis
• History of fashion.

Promotion and Communication pathway:

• Design research
• Illustration
• Trend analysis
• Fashion promotion
• History of fashion
• Digital photography and IT.  

Year 2

You will apply design concepts and ideas within the fashion market context. Dependent on your chosen pathway, you will study units in:

Design and Development pathway:

• Design experimentation
• Garment development
• Specialist fabric applications
• Outerwear
• Merchandising
• Design Research
• Marketing.

Promotion and Communication pathway:

• Fashion forecasting /trends
• Public Relations 
• Styling
• Buying
• Merchandising
• Design research
• Marketing. 

Year 3

Independent projects include:

• Final project and dissertation
• Competitions and involvement with Graduate Fashion Week
• Local fashion show.

Why choose this course?

• Students from both pathways mix and share activities, creating an exciting fusion of skill and talent.
• Field trips to Paris, New York and Rome as well as museums and exhibitions.
• To enhance your employability the course offers a realistic insight into the whole fashion industry, with strong emphasis on cutting edge design.
• Strong industry and alumni links enhance employment opportunities for new graduates.
• Industry-standard studios and equipment.

Assessment

Projects, presentations, group projects and group critiques and the final-year project and dissertation.

Key career skills

Creative thinking, writing, presentation, project management, communication, evaluation and problem solving.

Projects/work experience

Past work-experience placements have included a variety of PR, styling and design roles at organisations such as Agent Provocateur, Jenny Packham, FHM Magazine and the Daily Mail fashion desk. A formal fashion industry work-based learning option is available in the final year. 

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Graduate profile

Lucesca Holmes

"Challenging yet satisfying, this degree offers something for everyone. Be prepared to laugh, to cry, to jump with excitement, to tremble from nerves but most of all be prepared for the most amazing three years of university life.

"The first two years consist of learning new skills, experiencing different areas, from design and retail to photography and PR. You will then know your talents and weaknesses, so the third year is basically up to you. With great support and guidance from your lecturers, you can be as creative and free as you like.

"I’ve spent several days in London on research trips (a good excuse for doing a spot of shopping too!), quite a contrast to the hours I spent experimenting in Photoshop and Illustrator. I love the design/graphic aspects and mastery of graphics software packages; it’s also a great skill to have.

"There are organised trips to major cities like Paris and New York and speaker days from experts in the industry.

"I succeeded in achieving things I never thought possible and received a great degree from a great course."

Partner Affiliation Network

The Partner Affiliation Network is a group of companies aligned to each course area in the School of Design with the purpose of supporting a range of activities to help students engage with employers and gain relevant industrial experience. This is achieved through live project work, design competitions, work placements and guest speaker programmes.

All students studying on this course programme will have the opportunity to work with industry.

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