BA (Hons) Fashion (Full Time)

This three-year course will allow you to consider the whole process, from the production of initial design ideas to the realisation of a catwalk collection. Teaching will include pattern-cutting and sewing, traditional and CAD illustration techniques, design and layout, and fashion business and marketing.

As well as covering essential design and garment construction processes, we encourage students to experiment, innovate and explore new techniques. In the past few years students have used laser-cutting, digital print, feltmaking and metal sculpture to create innovative, yet wearable, design ideas.

Creativity is underpinned with a thorough exploration of fashion and design history and with essential business skills. Students develop a strong awareness of fashion industry practice and will be given the opportunity to take part in work experience or receive training in setting up a business of their own.

Each year graduates are involved in a number of high-profile promotional events, allowing final-year students to showcase their talents in the public arena and to potential employers. Events this year will include a catwalk show in East London and a fashion week event in Southampton.

Industrial focus

The emphasis of all Solent Fashion courses is on employability, encouraging students in all years to take part in work experience and live projects with fashion industry partners. Our students are currently working on projects in conjunction with Mudpie, Addict, Top Man, Fat Face, Ted Baker, All Walks Beyond the Catwalk and Good Fibres.

Guest speakers are invited on a regular basis to discuss their own experiences of working in fashion and to give students advice on how to forge their own career pathway. Recent guest speaker visits have included Caryn Franklin (TV presenter and i-D editor), Debra Bourne (PR consultant and campaigner), Alex Brownless (Artsthread), Paddy Hartley (artist and designer for Nick Knight and Lady Gaga), design boutique ‘ilovedust’ and inspirational Japanese pattern-cutter Shingo Sato.

Course content

Year 1

• Research and Concept Development
• Fashion Illustration
• Design and Product development (pattern-making and garment construction)
• Digital Fashion Design
• Design in Context (fashion history and design theory).

Year 2

• Fashion Business and Marketing
• Casualwear
• Tailoring
• Fashion in Context
• Capsule Collection: Research
• Capsule Collection: Collection.

Year 3

Three core units and two option units:

• Research Proposal: Pre-Collection
• Fashion Design Major Project
• Fashion Design Portfolio.

Options:

• Fashion Practice Dissertation
• Dissertation
• Fashion Industry Work-based Learning
• Professional Practice.

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Why choose Solent?

Highly dedicated staff will encourage you to fully explore the creative process and continually develop your knowledge of the exciting fashion industry.

• Field trips to Paris, New York and Rome, as well as to London museums and exhibitions.
• Industry-standard studios and equipment.
• Work experience opportunities and industry links.
• Varied and exciting project briefs, fusing theory and practice.
• Regular fashion industry guest speakers.
• Enthusiastic lecturing staff from fashion industry backgrounds.
• Career-focused programme.
• Fashion shows exhibiting graduate work to industry.

Assessment

Students receive regular feedback in seminar sessions and one-to-one tutorials. Practical skills and creative-thinking are assessed through the submission of design projects, sketchbook research and written assignments.

During the final year, students write a dissertation and produce a self-directed final major project, allowing them to explore their interests, strengths and career aims.

Projects/work experience

Past work experience placements have included a variety of PR, styling and design roles at companies 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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Key career skills

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

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.”

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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.

Key info from UNISTATS