Speak to current uni students who are studying fashion and textiles
Hi everyone 
On Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th July, students studying fashion and textiles will be online answering your questions about why they applied and what it's like.
Inspired by past graduates from DMU, these students now follow the footsteps of past students who have gone on to design and create clothing for fashion icons, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.
This Q+A is for everyone who is interested in applying for creative courses like fashion and textiles. This is a great opportunity to speak to students what they like about studying a creative course and what made them choose it.
Chat to our Fashion students Raabia, Tara and Juliet about all things fashion and textiles!
Find out more from Raabia and her recent experience of showcasing her collection at the GREAT Festival of Innovation in HK, and Juliet about her recent Degree Show collection and showcasing at New Designers in London.
Post your questions now and they'll be online across the week to give you advice based on their application experience and current university life.
Fashion and Textiles at DMU
On Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th July, students studying fashion and textiles will be online answering your questions about why they applied and what it's like.
Inspired by past graduates from DMU, these students now follow the footsteps of past students who have gone on to design and create clothing for fashion icons, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.
This Q+A is for everyone who is interested in applying for creative courses like fashion and textiles. This is a great opportunity to speak to students what they like about studying a creative course and what made them choose it.
Chat to our Fashion students Raabia, Tara and Juliet about all things fashion and textiles!
Find out more from Raabia and her recent experience of showcasing her collection at the GREAT Festival of Innovation in HK, and Juliet about her recent Degree Show collection and showcasing at New Designers in London.
Post your questions now and they'll be online across the week to give you advice based on their application experience and current university life.
Fashion and Textiles at DMU
Spoiler
(edited 5 years ago)
Hi there,
Your experiences sound amazing so far.
To apply to study fashion and textiles did you have to have a portfolio of your work so far? How much time did you spend on this?
Also, I used to think that to do well in fashion you had to be based in a major city like London but reading more, I now know that this isn't really the case and you can be successful even if you're located outside of somewhere like London. So, I'm interested to know, were you ever tempted by a London fashion college(s) and how did you go about researching fashion and textile courses across the country?
How did you know when you had found the right one for you?
Your experiences sound amazing so far.
To apply to study fashion and textiles did you have to have a portfolio of your work so far? How much time did you spend on this?
Also, I used to think that to do well in fashion you had to be based in a major city like London but reading more, I now know that this isn't really the case and you can be successful even if you're located outside of somewhere like London. So, I'm interested to know, were you ever tempted by a London fashion college(s) and how did you go about researching fashion and textile courses across the country?
How did you know when you had found the right one for you?
What made you choose DMU over any other options you might have been considering?
Have the facilities available to you been suitable for any/all projects you were working on?
Have the facilities available to you been suitable for any/all projects you were working on?
How confident are you that you'll be a suitable job for you once you've graduated?
How closely linked with the industry is your course?
Are there alternative routes into the industry, other than university, that you know of?
How closely linked with the industry is your course?
Are there alternative routes into the industry, other than university, that you know of?
(edited 5 years ago)
Like @she__ra I assume the application process for fashion and textiles is a bit different to many degrees. I bet it would be really helpful to prospective students if you could talk us through the application process a bit?
What sort of skill level do you need to apply? Do you need to be confident using a sewing machine and making your own patterns?
What do you think makes a strong application for this type of course?
Do you think having a BA will help you progress your career compared to someone who has followed a more vocational route into the industry?
What sort of skill level do you need to apply? Do you need to be confident using a sewing machine and making your own patterns?
What do you think makes a strong application for this type of course?
Do you think having a BA will help you progress your career compared to someone who has followed a more vocational route into the industry?
Original post by She-Ra
Hi there,
Your experiences sound amazing so far.
To apply to study fashion and textiles did you have to have a portfolio of your work so far? How much time did you spend on this?
Also, I used to think that to do well in fashion you had to be based in a major city like London but reading more, I now know that this isn't really the case and you can be successful even if you're located outside of somewhere like London. So, I'm interested to know, were you ever tempted by a London fashion college(s) and how did you go about researching fashion and textile courses across the country?
How did you know when you had found the right one for you?
Your experiences sound amazing so far.
To apply to study fashion and textiles did you have to have a portfolio of your work so far? How much time did you spend on this?
Also, I used to think that to do well in fashion you had to be based in a major city like London but reading more, I now know that this isn't really the case and you can be successful even if you're located outside of somewhere like London. So, I'm interested to know, were you ever tempted by a London fashion college(s) and how did you go about researching fashion and textile courses across the country?
How did you know when you had found the right one for you?
Hi,
Wow they are some really good questions! I will try my best to answer them all in detail
A portfolio of work to date is vital when applying to DMU Fashion and design courses. It is important to really showcase a range of skills and design thinking- not just one thing really well done. Include your written notes and clearly layout your process of design so that if someone looks at your work, they can clearly see how you got from one stage to another. Not everything should be polished, it should reflect your personal design aesthetic and creativity. Most importantly, have fun with it! There is no fixed right or wrong- just make sure it is professional
you can find out more in detail here http://dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/portfolio/dmu-portfolio-advice.aspxI definitely considered going to London to study Fashion but quickly realised it just wasn't for me. The costs of living in addition to potentially high costs of studying Fashion just wasn't a situation I wanted to be in. Living in the Midlands meant the best of both as it is only an hour on the train down to London when I wanted to but not having to pay London living costs.
It is an important decision to make but I knew that I would work hard and persevere no matter where I decided to study so in the end it wasn't too difficult a decision to make. I also did a summer placement with a designer in London between second and third year so not doing my degree there has not hindered me in any way.
After researching the Fashion courses in the Midlands, I then came to an open day at DMU. This made a massive difference as I was able to meet the Fashion tutors and view current/previous students' portfolios. It just convinced me that this is where I wanted to study- it is just a personal feeling you get when you walk into the studios and see the amazing facilities.
I hope this is in enough detail- thank you for getting in touch!
Raabia
Original post by shadowdweller
What made you choose DMU over any other options you might have been considering?
Have the facilities available to you been suitable for any/all projects you were working on?
Have the facilities available to you been suitable for any/all projects you were working on?
Hi,
I am a Fashion and Textiles student, and chose to study at DMU over other options because of many reasons. One was that the structure of the course I wanted to study suited my way of working; allowing me to get both a theoretical and design understanding of a higher level. The staff I spoke to on the open day and interview days were all highly experienced in their fields and very approachable, answering each of my questions with added depth and information. Making me feel even more passionate about the subject I wanted to study!
In addition to this, the university atmosphere on campus was lively and I found there was a real sense of community with lots of extra social societies that were available to join. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and very open to welcoming new prospective students. In terms of facilities, the new Vijay Patel building was able to offer me a wide range of textile equipment together with helpful technician support in order to teach me new skills where needed. This allowed me to have minimal restrictions when it came to development as a designer.
I found it really beneficial to visit the University and coming here on the open day instantly made my mind up about where I wanted to study.
I hope this has helped, Tara
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by 04MR17
How confident are you that you'll be a suitable job for you once you've graduated?
How closely linked with the industry is your course?
Are there alternative routes into the industry, other than university, that you know of?
How closely linked with the industry is your course?
Are there alternative routes into the industry, other than university, that you know of?
Hi!
The course itself embeds live industry projects and competitions with designers such as Burberry, Coach and Teatum Jones to name a handful. They change every year according to industry and is a great opportunity to not only build your portfolio but potentially win internships and prize money. We have had students who win the GAP competition and win an all-expense paid summer internship in New York. The complete list of opportunities is exhaustive but there is something for everyone to get involved with. There are also talks and presentations by industry at DMU which is a great opportunity to network.
I would personally say that studying design at university equips you with many skills not just the obvious: Time management, organisation and collaborative skills. You could enter the industry as an intern for a designer but they often expect a student studying design at university as there is an expectation of a certain level of skill. Was there a pathway you were considering in addition to university?
I hope this helps! Thanks for your question.
Raabia
Original post by SarcAndSpark
Like @she__ra I assume the application process for fashion and textiles is a bit different to many degrees. I bet it would be really helpful to prospective students if you could talk us through the application process a bit?
What sort of skill level do you need to apply? Do you need to be confident using a sewing machine and making your own patterns?
What do you think makes a strong application for this type of course?
Do you think having a BA will help you progress your career compared to someone who has followed a more vocational route into the industry?
What sort of skill level do you need to apply? Do you need to be confident using a sewing machine and making your own patterns?
What do you think makes a strong application for this type of course?
Do you think having a BA will help you progress your career compared to someone who has followed a more vocational route into the industry?
Yes of course, the application process requires a portfolio and interview submission. There are UCAS or equivalent scores you will need to attain in order to apply for any course here at DMU; these can be found online under the entry requirements, through this link:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/full-time-courses/all-full-time-courses.aspx.
For fashion and textiles there is no extra requirement for the understanding of a sewing machine or pattern cutting skills to begin with, as this is something the course will teach you in order to get everyone up to the same level of skill set.
It is really down to your interview and portfolio for this course, being selective and ensuring you show off your best skills and diverse work within fashion and textiles. If you refer back to Raabia's answer to @she__ra on this online thread, there is some more in depth information about the portfolio.
In my honest opinion, I think each pathway of a BA or a vocational route has its own benefits, it just depends on how you want to learn and what will suit you better. For me personally, I wanted to come to university in order to certify my education and gain the whole experience. I also wanted to use this time to lead me through specialising within my subject choices and experiment with what I liked over other options.
I hope this has answered your questions, Tara
Original post by DMU Enquiry Team
Was there a pathway you were considering in addition to university?
Original post by DMU Enquiry Team
Yes of course, the application process requires a portfolio and interview submission. There are UCAS or equivalent scores you will need to attain in order to apply for any course here at DMU; these can be found online under the entry requirements, through this link:
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/full-time-courses/all-full-time-courses.aspx.
For fashion and textiles there is no extra requirement for the understanding of a sewing machine or pattern cutting skills to begin with, as this is something the course will teach you in order to get everyone up to the same level of skill set.
It is really down to your interview and portfolio for this course, being selective and ensuring you show off your best skills and diverse work within fashion and textiles. If you refer back to Raabia's answer to @she__ra on this online thread, there is some more in depth information about the portfolio.
In my honest opinion, I think each pathway of a BA or a vocational route has its own benefits, it just depends on how you want to learn and what will suit you better. For me personally, I wanted to come to university in order to certify my education and gain the whole experience. I also wanted to use this time to lead me through specialising within my subject choices and experiment with what I liked over other options.
I hope this has answered your questions, Tara
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/full-time-courses/all-full-time-courses.aspx.
For fashion and textiles there is no extra requirement for the understanding of a sewing machine or pattern cutting skills to begin with, as this is something the course will teach you in order to get everyone up to the same level of skill set.
It is really down to your interview and portfolio for this course, being selective and ensuring you show off your best skills and diverse work within fashion and textiles. If you refer back to Raabia's answer to @she__ra on this online thread, there is some more in depth information about the portfolio.
In my honest opinion, I think each pathway of a BA or a vocational route has its own benefits, it just depends on how you want to learn and what will suit you better. For me personally, I wanted to come to university in order to certify my education and gain the whole experience. I also wanted to use this time to lead me through specialising within my subject choices and experiment with what I liked over other options.
I hope this has answered your questions, Tara
That's really great, thank you for answering.
Fashion and textiles sounds like a really cool course to study. What's been your favourite thing about the course so far?
Original post by DMU Enquiry Team
I definitely considered going to London to study Fashion but quickly realised it just wasn't for me. The costs of living in addition to potentially high costs of studying Fashion just wasn't a situation I wanted to be in. Living in the Midlands meant the best of both as it is only an hour on the train down to London when I wanted to but not having to pay London living costs.
I definitely considered going to London to study Fashion but quickly realised it just wasn't for me. The costs of living in addition to potentially high costs of studying Fashion just wasn't a situation I wanted to be in. Living in the Midlands meant the best of both as it is only an hour on the train down to London when I wanted to but not having to pay London living costs.
Sorry, hope you don't mind me jumping in here, but I was wondering what you meant about the additional costs of studying fashion?
Thank you!
Original post by SarcAndSpark
Sorry, hope you don't mind me jumping in here, but I was wondering what you meant about the additional costs of studying fashion?
Thank you!
Thank you!
Hi!
Of course we don't mind you jumping in, that's a great question!
Here at De Montfort core materials are provided at no cost to students, saving them both time and money in having to source these materials. For Fashion and Textiles you can expect inks, dyes and yarn to be provided. Here is the full list of our core materials if you would like to take a further look
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/art-design-humanities-undergraduate/art-and-design-core-costs.aspxMaterials that are not on the core materials list have to be sourced and bought by students which incurs additional costs. For example, Fashion Design students should expect to pay roughly £300 in their first year, £500 in their second year and up to £1,500 for materials in their third year for their final collection.
This may sound like a daunting amount but we have cash awards of £150, £200 and £300 on offer for students in first, second and third years which go toward materials and specialist printing. The cash awards are available to full-time, part-time and pro-rata students!
I hope this has answered your question!
Naomi
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by SarcAndSpark
That's really great, thank you for answering.
Fashion and textiles sounds like a really cool course to study. What's been your favourite thing about the course so far?
Fashion and textiles sounds like a really cool course to study. What's been your favourite thing about the course so far?
I'm glad to hear I was able to give you some useful information!
Fashion and Textiles in my opinion definitely is a really fun course to study and I have loved expanding my knowledge into all new aspects of design thinking and learning. I feel that my passion for designing has continued to grow immensely since coming to University, as each day you are surrounded by equally passionate people interested in the same field as you. If I had to pick, I would say that my favourite part of the course has been the freedom to experiment, where I have been able to explore new equipment such as laser cutting, digital embroidery and vinyl printing (to name only a few). Where previously I had not had the chance to work with this wide range of facilities, so it has also given me an advanced skill set, making me more equipped for the industry. Fashion and Textiles is open to a lot of different career paths as well which makes it a good course to select, as I found I didn’t close off all my options straight away.
I hope this answers your question well!
Tara
Thank you again for your answers, I'm sure this will be really helpful to lots of people
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