The course pursues regeneration and development by constantly adapting to the realities and needs of the designers of the future. We see this as a positive challenge and an inspiration to the work within all our courses. New ideas, materials, methods and design applications are continually originated and progressed by our MA, MPhil and PhD students.
Fashion Womenswear staff endeavour to create a course environment directed towards creative self-discovery, one that offers each student both the conceptual tutelage and technical guidance to achieve their three-dimensional design objectives.
The primary aim of the Womenswear course is to unleash each student’s professional self-assurance through the acquisition of a sound design methodology and rigorous research technique, firmly underpinned by an in-depth understanding of the student’s chosen area of technical expertise. The course is focused towards strengthening the students’ spirit of exploration through unique technical expertise and sound industry awareness. We encourage a strong work ethic across a broad variety of personally-driven and industry-oriented design projects.
Remarkable achievements continue to be made in all areas. The courses and specialisms have advanced and developed successfully, enriching the whole School of Fashion & Textiles and achieving professional recognition for its graduates. We are assured of the success of the department through the high international employment profile secured by our graduates who, as they achieve seniority in their own careers, return to the College to recruit young designers. Many of our former students also establish their own businesses in all aspects of design.
Students participate in the organisation of exhibitions generated by the courses, in particular the annual work-in-progress exhibition. A professional practice programme, seminars and guest speakers from the design and related industries support the core curriculum.
The department offers:
- a course geared towards creating ‘specialists in their field’: designer/makers who drive their discipline forward through strong personal vision and a passionate commitment to technique
- excellent technical facilities both within the department and across the School
- Womenswear technical staff including two full-time Womenswear technicians and a part-time pattern-cutting tutor
- a constantly evolving range of Visiting Lecturers from all facets of fashion design, media and retail commerce: key players at the vanguard of their disciplines
- actively encouragement and facilitation of College-wide interdisciplinary investigation
- project collaborations with international corporations, companies and fashion houses including recently: Marni, Swarovski, Sophie Hallette, Umbro, Esprit and Bentley
- excellent graduate destinations including: Prada, Alberta Ferretti, Burberry, Stella McCartney, Marni, Chloe, Celine, Aquascutum, Givenchy, COS, Nina Ricci, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Cerrutti and McQueen
- opportunities for represention in major exhibitions and competitions including recently: the V&A (Future Fashion Now), Buckingham Palace, HM Treasury, International Talent Support (fashion collection winners include Liam Evans and Heikki Salonen) and Mittelmoda (fashion collection winners include Marielle van de ven and Louise Langkilde Larsen)
- alumni including Christopher Bailey, Holly Fulton, Erdem, Justin Smith Esq, Heikki Salonen, Julien MacDonald, Philip Treacy and Boudicca.
