FASHION AND TEXTILES PATHWAY

EXPLORER

The Explorer Focus

How do fashion designers turn ideas into designs?

At the Explorer stage, students learn the fundamentals of fashion and textile design, developing the creative and practical skills needed to communicate fashion ideas. They explore fashion illustration, proportion, materials, colour and pattern while learning how designers develop ideas from initial inspiration into wearable designs.

Focus:
• Fashion illustration & figure drawing
• Garment shapes, proportion & construction
• Colour, pattern & textile design
• Fabrics, materials & surface qualities
• Research, inspiration & fashion concepts

Students complete four self-paced projects, developing their ability to explore the key ideas and skills of this stage.

Across the projects, they explore:
• Fashion illustration & figure drawing
• Garment shapes, proportion & construction
• Colour, pattern & textile design
• Fabrics, materials & surface qualities
• Research, inspiration & fashion concepts

Projects are self-paced and typically take around 6 sessions to complete, allowing students to develop and refine their ideas at their own pace.

Key Outcomes

Develop fashion illustration skills
• Learn to communicate garment ideas through confident fashion drawings and illustrations.

Understand garment design & proportion
• Explore shape, proportion, construction and how garments work on the body.

Experiment with textiles, colour & pattern
• Develop an understanding of materials, surface design, colour and pattern.

Turn inspiration into design ideas
• Research, develop and communicate original fashion concepts using a range of creative techniques.

DEVELOPER

The Developer Focus

How do fashion designers develop collections?

At the Developer stage, students apply their fashion and textile skills to more developed design challenges, learning how designers research, develop and refine collections. They explore garment development, textile techniques, pattern, surface design and the relationship between a designer's concept and the final product.

Focus:
• Collection development & design themes
• Garment design & technical drawing
• Pattern, print & surface design
• Textile techniques & material experimentation
• Design development & refinement

Students complete four self-paced projects, developing their ability to explore the key ideas and skills of this stage.

Across the projects, they explore:
• Collection development & design themes
• Garment design & technical drawing
• Pattern, print & surface design
• Textile techniques & material experimentation
• Design development & refinement

Projects are self-paced and typically take around 6 sessions to complete, allowing students to develop and refine their ideas at their own pace.

Key Outcomes:

Develop a cohesive fashion collection
• Create a series of connected designs based on a clear concept, theme or target audience.

Communicate garment ideas clearly
• Use fashion illustration, technical drawings and visual development to communicate design ideas.

Experiment with textiles & surface design
• Explore fabric, pattern, print and surface techniques to create distinctive textile outcomes.

Refine designs for a specific audience
• Make informed decisions about style, materials, colour and function to develop more considered designs.

INNOVATOR

The Innovator Focus

How do fashion designers create original identities?

At the Innovator stage, students develop their own creative voice and explore how fashion and textiles can be used to communicate ideas, identity and stories. They tackle more open-ended design challenges, experimenting with innovative materials, construction, surface design and sustainable approaches to create original fashion concepts.

Focus:
• Creative concept development
• Fashion storytelling & identity
• Experimental textiles & materials
• Sustainable & innovative design
• Collection development & creative direction

Students complete four self-paced projects, developing their ability to explore the key ideas and skills of this stage.

Across the projects, they explore:
• Creative concept development
• Fashion storytelling & identity
• Experimental textiles & materials
• Sustainable & innovative design
• Collection development & creative direction

Projects are self-paced and typically take around 6 sessions to complete, allowing students to develop and refine their ideas at their own pace.

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Key Outcomes:

Develop an original fashion concept
• Create distinctive designs that communicate a clear creative vision, story or identity.

Develop a personal design voice
• Experiment with different techniques, materials and approaches to develop individuality and confidence.

Explore innovative and sustainable fashion
• Consider alternative materials, processes and approaches to create more responsible and imaginative designs.

Create portfolio-quality fashion work
• Bring together research, development, illustration, textile experimentation and final outcomes to create a strong body of fashion and textile work.

FASHION AND TEXTILES PATHWAY

EXPLORER

The Explorer Focus

Key Outcomes

Earn Your YDA Explorer Certificate

DEVELOPER

The Developer Focus

Earn Your YDA Developer Certificate

INNOVATOR

The Innovator Focus

Earn Your YDA Innovator Certificate