Art and Design (Fashion - Tailoring and Streetwear)

This course is one of the few courses in London which focuses on contemporary tailoring and street wear trends. As a student, you will get a fusion of traditional and contemporary skills. As a close-knit community, we will support you in small class sizes. There is a strong focus on technical skills, delivered by experienced and highly qualified tutors, who are current industry experts and are highly experienced in these areas. The fashion business is worth £26 billion to the UK economy and two of its fastest growing niches are tailoring and streetwear. Tailoring is becoming more and more popular as many consumers continue to want individuality while looking smart and are again prepared to invest for this exclusivity. The streetwear consumer wants affordable, exclusivity and is prepared to spend up to 5 times more on streetwear items compared to non-street wear. Brands such as Offwhite, Stussy, Supreme, Palace and even Nike are recognised as key players and innovators in this space. Year 1 of the course (effectively the Level 4 Higher National Certificate) is a broad introduction to both areas (tailoring and streetwear) where you will be encouraged to explore, be expressive and experimental by drawing on a range of materials. You will develop a wide range of technical and creative skills preparing you for both industries. You will be taught the fundamentals of the fashion design process, giving you the skills to prepare you for the fast-moving professional world and to be self-reflecting individuals to meet the demands of employers in the creative industry and adapt to a constantly changing environment. Once you have developed a sound understanding of the principles of tailoring and streetwear in year 1, you can choose to specialise in either tailoring or the streetwear pathway more widely in your second year. There will also be opportunities to take part in live industry projects and collaborations, as well as contact with industry experts in your second year. By the end of the program you will be able to produce garments ranging from made to measure, to streetwear but also how to blend those differing styles together. You will also learn the importance of project management in terms of designing and producing a garment within a specific time frame paying close attention to the detail and its finish. Additionally, you will gain the wider experience of contextual awareness such as sustainable and ethical fashion and how this impacts manufacturing, designing clothes and the environment.

UCAS Tariff - 48 points
48 UCAS points equivalent: - Access to Higher Education Diploma - A levels - BTEC at level 3 With GCSE English grade 4 or C minimum. Desirable GCSE Maths. Students also need to have a good level of computer literacy.

IELTS (Academic): 5.5
Students and prospective students require a minimum level of 5.5 IELTS (or equivalent) with no score lower than a 5 in listening and speaking and no score lower than a 5.5 in reading and writing.
PTE Academic: 42
Pearson Test of English Academic

Students undertaking higher level education need to have a commensurate level of understanding of the English language so as to be able to achieve their qualification. In the case of applicants for whom English is a second language, the interviewer and Central Admissions Team must assure themselves of the applicant’s ability to function at IELTS English Level 5.5 (or equivalent). This is in line with the requirements of the awarding and validating bodies. Where applicants do not hold an IELTS qualification at 5.5 or equivalent, the Central Admissions will ask the applicant to sit an online test (BKSB) to check the suitability of the applicant’s English level prior to interview. Photographic identification will be required. Applicants who have recently completed (i.e. in the last 2 years) a formal programme of study in English at an appropriate level (such as a level 3 BTEC or ‘A’ level) prior to starting their Higher National are considered to be at a suitable level of English without requiring additional evidence..