“Fashion is the second most profitable industry in the world. I think it’s really important to make a statement.” Richard Quinn, LFW 2018

Course Highlights: 

100% A*-B   A Level 2020 and 2019

Consistently top performing A Level course in Dorset, value added score of 1.48 per pupil

Competitions:

Dorset Asset Prize: Top county Textile student awards 2 years running

Valter trust: Cockbaine shield for design innovation in Textiles 2018/19

Clothes Show Young handbag designer of the year: National finalists

Cultural and contextual enrichment, trips and visits:

The Stitch Show, London- demonstrations, workshops and lectures

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London: Tim Walker, Mary Quant, Fashioned by Nature, Balenciaga, Undressed

Harrods, London; Superbrands
The Clothes Show, Birmingham- fashion runway, live brief, sustainable concepts

Blandford Fashion Museum and historical costume loan

AUB; Lucienne Day, Summer Shows, What is Textiles, A Stitch in Line

Industry professionals, work experience placements and visiting artists:

Professor Caryn Franklin; fashion activist: Clothes Show Live

Sew Jessalli; stitched textile artist, Dorset
Sew La di Da Vintage; bespoke corsetry workshop

Kyleigh’s Papercuts; craft and design business, Just William; print and embroidery, Minster Bridal, Lost in Knit, Hobbycraft digital.

Subtraction Cutting Workshop, pioneered by Julian Roberts, LCF.

Desirable skills:

Creative approach, resilience, flair for art and design, enquiring mind, ambition.

Other subjects that work well with this course are:
Art and photography

Why study Textiles at A Level?
Fashion and Textiles at FUS is a vibrant and challenging course which aims to provide students with a diverse skill set and awareness of career opportunities post Sixth Form study. We encourage independent personal research and self-expression. Students develop their ideas based around exciting themes and respond to live project briefs, including the national ‘British Style Collective’ annual Young Designer Competition. Our course allows students to develop an awareness of the fashion and textiles industry through visits to prominent exhibitions, craft spaces and universities, reflecting on how designers are inspired by the world around us. Visiting artists, recent graduates and practical workshops are a regular feature of the course which enables strong networks with local and national artists, designers and makers.

Course overview
Students will primarily learn through doing, acquiring a diverse range of practical making skills; using sewing machines, CAD and textile art media. Critical and contextual studies reflecting current and historical practitioners, will inform and inspire personal responses. Peer assessment, student led learning and teamwork are a key element of the course.
Practical processes include: Textile design; surface pattern, print and dyeing, batik, silk painting, and screen and block printing. Heat transfer press, fashion illustration, marketing and promotion, garment construction, CAD, laser cutting and freehand machine embroidery techniques.
Artist led workshops, both on and off site. Exhibition visits.
Fashion and textile design, pattern cutting, drafting, costume and dressmaking skills.

Students studying Textiles will:

• Take part in a fashion show, work collaboratively across genres
• Embrace a diverse range of fashion and textile processes; innovation in design
• Consider industry and societal issues such as climate change, slow fashion, wellbeing, arts education and activism.
• Investigate different aspects of fashion and textiles within a wider global context – future of design practice, sustainability and advertising campaigns.

Progression routes and future careers

Foundation Art and Design: FUS, London College of Fashion, De Montfort University, Manchester Met, UAL, AUB, UCA, Winchester School of Art.

Fashion: designer, illustration, promotion, advertising, marketing, photography, dressmaker, accessories, jewellery, tailor, curator, costume, hair and make-up, film. Textiles: surface pattern and print designer, weave, knit, textile artist, craftsperson, visual merchandiser, fashion promotion and marketing, retail, buyer, specialist crafts, museum and galleries, educator.

Specialist staff: Lisa Robson BA (Hons) Printed Textiles, UCA, PGCE Art & Design UCL

Arts Award Advisor, freelance designer, retail; Liberty London, Art and Drama tours rep.

Corrine Hardman BA (Hons) Fine Art, Winchester, PGCE. Jan Collard; textiles technician.