MA Fashion Design Technology, Womenswear
| Course Director | Darren Cabon |
|---|---|
| Course Location | |
| Study Level | Postgraduate |
| Study Mode | Full Time or Part Time |
| Course Length | 15 months (Full time) or 27 months (Part time) |
| IELTS level | 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one skill |
| Home/EU Fee | £7,500 (Full Time)
£3,750 per year (Part Time) |
| International Fee | £13,300 (Full Time) |
| Start Date | September |
| Autumn Term Dates | 17 Sept 2012 - 07 Dec 2012; 23 Sept 2013 - 06 Dec 2013 |
| Spring Term Dates | 09 Jan 2013 - 22 March 2013 |
| Summer Term Dates | 16 April 2013 - 29 June 2013 |
| Application Route | Direct to College |
| Application Deadline | Applications are accepted, and offers made, throughout the year with a deadline of 1st March 2012 for applicants who wish to apply for AHRC funding and a final deadline of 5 July 2012. Early application is advised. |
MA Fashion Design and Technology: Womenswear provides an opportunity to challenge clothing through technology, and in the process, develop innovative techniques for mastering fashion. Our designers are a unique force of freethinkers who accept no boundaries. The programme aims to continue the link between the impossible and the achievable through high and low tech craftsmanship. You will challenge aesthetics, and be a global player in the promotion of individual creativity.
The course offers multidisciplinary framework for independent study leading to an original body of practical or written work, for example an innovative collection of menswear, a technological investigation into new methods with prototypes, or a dissertation on a design-based subject. The concept for the final major project is proposed and negotiated by the student.
Students on MA Fashion Design and Technology: Womenswear can incorporate a further specialism such as embroidery, knitwear, tailoring and innovative pattern cutting.
Course Structure
Full Time mode
Part Time Mode
Year One
Year Two
Outline of the course
Master’s Project Proposal
This unit supports the development of your project proposal. You will be able to work on your initial ideas discussed at interview, through reviewing and revising your focus in line with developing interests synthesised from your work within the specialist units of your MA course. A staged process of development and review culminates in the presentation of the proposal for assessment. Individual and original results must be underpinned by sound research methodologies, and you will be expected to consult a wide range of specialist resources. You will be introduced to a broad range of research methodologies and skills, including presentations, workshops and practitioner case studies. This unit will support you in the completion of your coursework assignments and will prepare you for the development of your Master’s Project.
Contextual Studies
The contemporary fashion and creative industries require multi-skilled and flexible individuals who understand the complexities of the global fashion industry. This unit enables you to appreciate the perspectives of both your own and other disciplines at work in fashion today, and to understand and analyse the complex economic, technical, ethical and business issues that affect the future of the creative industries. The unit is a focal point for all MA students, both full and part time, from all courses. It underpins your specialist studies by providing a common forum for debate on issues arising from the study of fashion. Aspects of design, technology, communication, marketing and the cultural industries are explored, and a programme of visiting speakers from industry and leading researchers supports the unit.
Retail Landscape
This unit provides you with an introduction to, and a contextualisation of, multidisciplinary approaches to fashion retailing, the promotion of international retail fashion and how it is rapidly evolving in the 21st century. Firstly, you will examine the contemporary retail environment, including an overview of fashion consumers and trends in consumption, the broader societal, economic and regulatory changes, and technological development. Secondly, you will survey the variety of retail formats and their application to fashion retailing. In this unit you will investigate the discourses concerning the influence of lifestyle retailing, locations, including out of town and re-use of buildings, and multi-channel retailing.
Visual and Sensory Strategies
This unit builds on Retail Landscape through providing a blend of theoretical and practice-based knowledge and skills for a variety of visual strategies that can be applied to the retail environment. It will consider how the use of 2D (including online and virtual environments) and 3D design can be used to present and communicate fashion. This will allow you to explore and develop the concept of customer experience with experiential and sensory design in a multi-channel environment, through designing and implementing creative technologies to fit with the retail brand, and examining the convergence of the physical and virtual store. As well as practice-based learning underpinned with theoretical knowledge, the process and leadership of the management of retail projects in independents, high street and luxury markets will be addressed through the established discipline of project management.
Retail Branding and Identity
This unit explores the importance of branding and identity as a form of differentiation that adds value and competitive advantage for retail fashion brands and multi-channel retail environments. It will introduce current issues in product-led and co-created branding, and consider the influence of symbolic and experiential branding in retailing. You will be able to evaluate the fundamental elements of brand strategies in the global context of fashion retailing, through relating awareness, effect, reputation and loyalty to innovative and heritage-based retailer strategies. The main focus will be on the processes of retail brand creation and their values. Additional analysis of brand identity, corporate and visual approaches, and retail brand communication will also be addressed. You will acquire a practical and theoretical understanding of branding for specific audiences, and will be able to create and manage successful strategies for entering online and physical stores, museums, galleries, hotels and spa salons.
Master’s Project
This unit allows you to focus on producing your own major work, which can take one of two forms, either a theoretical dissertation on an appropriate aspect of the Fashion Retail environment, or a negotiated practice-based project with an in depth report with appropriate visual documentation of all stages of the project. The project will be a rigorous piece of work that will synthesise practical and academic issues addressed on the course, and which will contribute to the growth of knowledge and approaches for the retail environment. It is underpinned by the units studied in the first part of the course.
Master's graduates have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market, obtaining work in a wide range of vocational and academic fields related to fashion. The course provides the industry with graduates who will have the capability to work as part of a creative team as a colleague and an individual. The graduate will have transferable skills for the creative industries including an understanding of high levels of design, time and project management, production and technical knowledge of types of manufacture supported by an aesthetic awareness and academic underpinning.
The course in the past has benefited from constant contact with the industry. External assessors and tutors, leading buying and merchandising teams, stylists and photographers, journalists and editors, entrepreneurs and business consultants show an increasing interest in the emerging talent the course generates. International employers include Alberta Ferretti, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Chloe, Loewe, Pringle, Hussein Chalayan, Roland Mouret, Topman, Savile Row Tailors, Browns Focus, Harvey Nichols, Topman, Savile Row Tailors and Browns Focus.
Graduates from the current MA Fashion Design and Technology have gained employment as innovators within the broad field of fashion design and technology or have identified a fashion house, large corporate company or alternatively choose to build their own identity through the launch of their own design label. Further employment of graduates has included trend prediction, stylist, illustrator, freelance designer or broad aspects of the creative industries.
Further employment opportunities include trend prediction, stylist, illustrator, freelance designer or broad aspects of the creative industries. The MA also provides an excellent preparation for higher level research degrees (MPhil or PhD), with an increasing number of graduates undertaking research in fashion related subjects.
Student Selection Criteria
The course seeks to recruit students from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and welcomes applications from mature students.
Entry to this course is highly competitive: applicants are expected to achieve, or already have, the course entry requirements detailed below.
Course Entry Requirements
- An Honours degree at 2.1 or above in a related discipline. Applicants with a degree in another subject may be considered, depending on the strength of the application.
OR
- Equivalent qualifications
OR
- Relevant and quantitative industrial experience for a minimum of three years.
Selection for interview will be made on the basis of your application, including the personal statement, the reference, and the supporting written statement. If you are selected for interview you will be asked to bring examples of previous written work.
What We Look For
The course seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:
- A strong commitment and motivation towards a career in an aspect of fashion retail
- Awareness and relevant experience of fashion
- Appropriate knowledge and skills commensurate with planned entry into the course.
English language requirements
All classes are conducted in English. The level required by the University for this course is IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one skill.
For more information, read the University's English Language requirements page.
International Applicants
The International Recruitment Office at the London College of Fashion will help to guide you through the application process and answer any specific questions that you may have regarding our courses. This may include portfolio advice, the application process and fee advice. We offer a ‘drop-in’ facility for applicants who may be in London and wish to obtain further course and admissions information. Please contact us for further information on this facility. We can also arrange a tour of our facilities if we are given prior notice.
If you have a question, you can contact our International Recruitment Office by calling +44 (0)20 7514 7656 / 7678 / 7629 or completing our Online Enquiry Form.
To find out more about studying in London, please visit the International students section of the London College of Fashion website.
Home/EU Applicants
Applications to study for a Postgraduate course should be made directly to the College using the Postgraduate Application Form, accompanied by two references (one of which should be academic) and a copy of your highest qualification to date.
Most postgraduate courses require you to submit a detailed study proposal and / or essay. Please read the specific guidance notes before applying to this course.
- Download Graduate School Application Form [PDF - 502kb]
- Download Graduate School Application Form [Word doc - 152kb]
- Download MA FDT Guidance Notes [PDF - 70kb]
Alternatively, you can request an application form by calling +44 (0)20 7514 7563 / 7344. If you have a question, you can ask us through our Online Enquiry Form.
Please send your completed application form to the following address:
International Applicants
Please apply directly to the College using the International Application Form, accompanied by contact details of two referees (one of which should be academic) and a copy of your highest qualification to date. We will write to your referees and obtain your references. You must also complete and send the Tier 4 Student Visa: UK Immigration History Form Guidance Notes for Students to the LCF International Recruitment Office with your portfolio (if required) and supporting documents.
Most postgraduate courses require you to submit a detailed study proposal and / or essay. Please read the specific guidance notes before applying to this course.
- Download Postgraduate International Application Form [PDF - 200kb]
- Download Postgraduate International Application Form [Word doc - 235kb]
- Download MA FDT Guidance Notes [PDF - 70kb]
- Download Tier 4 Student Visa: UK Immigration History Form Guidance Notes for Students [PDF - 63kb]
Please send your completed application form to the following address:
If you have a question, you can contact our International Recruitment Office by calling +44 (0)20 7514 7656 / 7678 / 7629 or completing our Online Enquiry Form.
Selection Process
The course team will review your application and you may be called to interview. If you are selected for interview you will be asked to bring examples of previous written work. From the interview the course team will decide if you are to be offered a place on the course.