Skip to content ↓

Fashion & Textiles (A Level)

Why study Fashion and Textiles?

Fashion and Textiles inspires students to solve design problems, and in doing so they gain an in depth knowledge of what constitutes both the function and aesthetics of a Fashion garment or Textile product.

This course provides students with an understanding of the economic, social, aesthetic and political issues of the day and how these affect Textile products and Fashion trends.

Career Prospects: Fashion Buyer; Fashion Journalist; Garment Technologist; Fashion Designer; Trend Predictor; Style Consultant; Fashion Illustrator; Stylist; Interior Designer; Print Designer, Pattern Cutter,

Extension and Enrichment Opportunities: Visits to exhibitions and places of industrial interest are vital to the understanding of product design.  Many links exist between our department and outside agencies and professional help is often sought for project work involving state of the art industrial processes.

At A level this course provides students with a level of knowledge equivalent to first year degree level. This means that the vast majority of our students have been accepted directly into the top Fashion courses in the UK.

What are the Entry Requirements?

5 in Textiles or Art and Design or a visual portfolio demonstrating textile or art work of a GCSE grade 5 standard, and a grade 5 in Maths.

Timetable Organisation?

Textiles lessons are taught by a pair of teachers who cover the lessons between them in 5 lessons per week.  All students will also have one hour of directed study time each week. 

What else is required?

You need to enjoy coursework and the success of creating useful and beautiful pieces of design.  Sketching and construction skills are important and numeracy skills are essential.  A good understanding of science is also helpful.

What other subjects link well?

An excellent complement to Arts, Sciences and Business related subjects.  These subjects can be studied both as a means of developing a whole range of transferable skills or as a distinct route to the professions mentioned below.

Exam Board

AQA

How will I be assessed?

A Level

Paper 1  Technical Principles 2 1/2 hours

Paper 2 Designing and Making Principles 1 ½ hours

NEA (Non Exam Assessment-coursework) worth 50% of A Level mark

To be produced as a portfolio of written or digital evidence, of a product of your choosing.

A Level 
What will I study at A level? 
  • Fashion cycles
  • Designers and design movements from 20 and 21st century
  • Fashion and trends
  • Testing of Textile Products
  • Further design and illustration methods
  • Use and representation of data
  • CAD/CAM
  • Efficient use of materials and waste minimisation
  • Health and Safety
  • Sustainability
  • Copyright and Patent
  • Marketing and Promotion
  • Product analysis
  • Accuracy and the use of mathematics in industry
  • The work of BSI and ESO
  • Yarn production
  • Knitted fabrics and garments
  • Blending of fibres
  • Construction methods
  • Fastenings
  • Weaves
  • Finishes
  • Technical and smart textiles
  • Production methods
  • Pattern drafting and prototypes