Fashion Design and Accessories

Accounting for 50% of the turnover of luxury and fashion industry brands, accessories are the new fashion objects of desire and make the difference to a winning collection and brand name. This three year full time Fashion Design & Accessories course forms multi-skilled designers, fully qualified in the latest fashion and accessories design techniques and approaches.

Covering shoes, bags, and fashion collection design, the course nurtures creativity and individual style, while also responding to new demands and trends in the fashion and luxury market. By studying the main contemporary artistic movements, and the latest styles and trends which influence accessories design, participants develop an aesthetic sensitivity, appreciating the intrinsic values and characteristics of an accessories product, namely the emotions and perceptions customers take from a fashion item to produce products that create desire. They learn how to research and contextualise ideas and are encouraged to experiment with new approaches in the industry that are evolving today, including renewable and sustainable resources, innovative materials and new technologies, building individual style and creative and professional abilities.

Participants also explore how Italian manufacturing is exemplary in its identification and use of materials and manufacturing techniques, giving a focus on the excellence that is “Italianness”: craftsmanship, design and style. The use of traditional techniques and new technologies are well balanced to ensure participants gain comprehensive skills in all areas: from hand illustration, to the latest software packages, progressing through 2D into 3D design, and also 3D printing techniques. They understand the viability of accessory production and development, working and evaluating material requirements via full shape analysis. This dynamic fashion course provides a solid base in the fashion system; a model that embraces many different aspects of todays fast changing and competitive fashion industry.

The evolution of fashion, and fashion accessory design is also studied from its humble beginnings as a functional add-on, to the elevated status it has today as the signature piece in a fashion collection. A final graduation showcase event gives participants the opportunity to exhibit their work and achieve recognition through networking.

Guided by an experienced faculty team of industry experts, the final year concludes with the creation of a professional portfolio and accessories design collection.

This course is part of the fashion design study pathways. With fashion design as the coresubject, participants specialise in the chosen area of interest (accessories), positioning themselves as an industry expert with a specific and highly sought after professional profile.

This course is also available as a BA (Hons) four year course (including placement sandwich year)-*.