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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear

3 looks for male musician with amp and guitar in background.
Zhe Wang | BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology | London College of Fashion | UAL
College
London College of Fashion
UCAS code
W293
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years

BA menswear at LCF aims to challenge and re-define what it means to be a man. Pushing through boundaries of conformity, to meaningfully contribute to the gender debate. We reference traditional masculine identities but look up and out to the future, taking preconceptions and subverting them.

We provide you with the skills to innovative and boldly manifest ideas. To find your values and strengthening them by exploring your unique life experiences. To create garments that address and dissect the issues that matter to you, from gender to colonialism, from faith to politics. Creating a design future that is ethical, inclusive, fresh and brimming with innovation.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

    • Where graduates have gone on to work: graduates of this course have worked for high-end fashion companies such as Burberry, Lanvin, Chanel, Bernhard Willhelm, and Charles Jeffery, as well as within commercial brands such as Topman, Adidas and Zara.
    • Industry links: students will have the opportunity to undertake live projects with global brands to help develop an understanding of how companies operate. Students can undertake an industry placement as part of the course with established and emerging companies both at home and abroad.
    • Skill development: students graduate with a wide range of skills in both design and realisation. This allows them to enter the industry in both design and technical fields. Graduates have gone on to work as menswear designers, design freelancers, product developers, pattern cutters, studio managers and have also established their own brands.

Open days

There are currently no Open Days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction

BA (Hons) Design and Technology: Menswear offers a creative approach to the design and realisation of contemporary menswear. Our students create work that pushes the boundaries through engagement with meaningful research, innovative design, problem solving, and technical experimentation.

Students use the subject of menswear to explore issues of identity such as gender and non-binary genders, class, subcultures, faith and global cultural diversity and engage with global issues such as sustainability, social responsibility, ethical and environmental awareness.

What to expect

  • The course provides a clearly structured, incremental curriculum to help foster critical thinking and lead to independent learning.
  • Defined developmental stages of the course move from the acquisition of core skills to the development and refinement of a strong personal aesthetic.
  • The academic underpinning of the course will enable students to appreciate the cultural and historical context of their practice and help them to develop the ability to critically evaluate their work and the work of others.
  • During the course students have the opportunity to undertake a placement in industry, providing the experience of working in a company and the chance to make contacts before graduation.
  • On graduation, students will be fully equipped to succeed as a creative designer in the challenging international field of menswear.

Work experience and opportunities

Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a short work placement during their second year of study. This provides increased industry awareness as well as crucial experience and valuable contacts within the industry. Industry-led projects form a key part of the course, and collaborations with students from other courses within the college are encouraged as part of the curriculum.

Mode of study

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks.

Climate, Social and Racial Justice Statement

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

Year one

Introduction to Menswear

Introduction to Menswear aims to introduce you to your course and its subject specialism as well as to effective learning and studentship at undergraduate level. It will orientate you to the practices and knowledge base needed to understand your discipline and help you to develop your skills for independent & collaborative learning, reflection and your own self development. Students come from many diverse educational backgrounds and a part of this unit will enable to reflect on your own background and how that shapes the way you approach your course.

Design and Realisation

Design and Realisation introduces you to a variety of research approaches and explores their relevance and application within design and realisation. 

There will be a focus on the importance of research and creative concepts as the basis for design development. You will be encouraged to develop creative ideas that relate to and expand upon your visual references and research sources to inform final outcomes.  You will be encouraged to nurture innovation in all areas.

Effective visual communication skills will be integral to this unit. You will be introduced to ways of recording your work in a visually stimulating, exciting and informative way, using a variety of methods and media.

You will be introduced to core practical skills through demonstration of pattern-cutting and garment construction, culminating in a completed garment. By undertaking independent study you will enhance skills learnt within sessions.

Fashion Cultures and Histories

Fashion Cultures and Histories introduces the Cultural and Historical Studies approach to fashion and related areas. The unit provides a broad overview of the subject and introduces key concepts and ways of thinking that will form the basis of subsequent study. It will also inform decisions regarding the Cultural and Historical Studies unit that is chosen for future study.

Form and Structure

This unit will build on the knowledge gained in Block 1 and will develop your understanding of the construction and finishing principles involved in contemporary tailoring.  There will be an emphasis on creative shape development and innovative cutting techniques with detailed 3D experimentation. 

You will develop your understanding of ethically and environmentally aware fabric sourcing and appropriate fabrics, to realise your designs as part of your development process.

Portfolio presentation skills will be developed to further facilitate clear communication of your design ideas, process and final outcomes. 

Preparation for year 2 industry placement will take the form of a CV, cover letter and mini portfolio curated from your year 1 work to date. 

Year two

You will be able to study a Cultural and Historical Studies unit of your choice that will broaden your learning of areas relating to your interests in your chosen field. You will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, seminars and workshops with students from other courses within your School and you will read relevant academic texts and complete a formal academic essay for assessment. Further information on the options available will be provided during Year 1 of your studies.

Range Development

This unit will introduce you to the importance of range development through design for a client – either simulated or actual. 

You will be required to analyse the client requirements and refine your visual communication skills.

Work Experience

The Work Experience unit will provide you with the opportunity to further develop your skills and apply them in a professional environment. You will experience real industry challenges and working practices and will be able to examine the way in which a professional team respond to different situations. The unit will increase your awareness of the industry and the opportunities for career progression. You will be expected to take an analytical and reflective approach to the work experience and will produce written and visual evidence of your knowledge, based on a minimum 10-week period in industry. LCF Graduate Futures will provide career guidance in order to prepare you for your work experience. You will be expected to engage and be proactive in securing your own work experience, relevant to your skills and career aspirations, this means applying directly to companies. You will also be expected to provide feedback on your experience both during and after your work placement. The College Placement Handbook will provide additional support for this Unit.

Collaborative Project

This Collaborative Project emphasises teamwork and will offer you the opportunity to work as part of a design team. An understanding of team working, as well the ability to communicate and present combined design concepts and products, are attributes that will help prepare you for the challenges of the creative industries.

You will build on your knowledge of range development to   create a coherent collection for a real or simulated client. You will develop an understanding of the client and their brand ethos and undertake critical analysis of the information gathered to propose design solutions. You will develop your ability to collate relevant information and expand upon creative concepts and theories related to this research.

To prepare you for your Stage 3 you will explore the role of research and practice-based research methods in the development of a collection, by writing a design proposal for year 3.  Your proposal will support the development of ethical, inclusive, empathetic, design propositions for your final year.

Optional Diploma Year

CCI Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear (with Creative Computing).

CCI Apple Diploma 

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear (with Apple Development).

Final year

Contextualising Your Practice

Contextualising Your Practice allows you to build on your historical and theoretical understanding of fashion through a research-led extended essay. You will identify a topic, related to your field of practice, that you will investigate through design-led research methods and significant cultural and critical theories. It is an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial piece of structured research that examines fashion practise in context, and it will build on the critical debates and concerns raised through your course.

Pre-Collection

This unit is designed to prepare you for the Final Collection. You will be expected to negotiate a project brief that will support the development of a thorough body of work that evidences investigation and innovation in both design and realisation.

You will identify your proposed market level, customer, brand ethos and core philosophy as a designer. You will consider ethical business models and socially responsible design practices. 

You will undertake a practical journey culminating in a body of work that shows innovative design and technical experimentation with fabric, process and potential garment solutions.
 
You will be expected to engage in prototype testing that will be evidenced through 2D and 3D investigation and sampling, within both your design and technical portfolios. The focus of this project is on using your skills to show extensive creative experimentation, whilst considering the practical aspects of problem-solving, through fabric and trims sourcing. Extensive investigation into appropriate use of finish, detailing and manufacture will be documented alongside silhouette/shape development.

Final Collection

The Final Collection unit is the culmination of your undergraduate learning experience. Through the development of a final major project, you will be further demonstrating your innovative approach and deeper engagement, analysis and conclusions drawn from your Pre-Collection unit. You should refine and execute your design, design development and realisations established through a process of design synthesis. Through practical application, you will be demonstrating your rigorous analysis in the exploration and development of your design ideas. This unit provides the opportunity to apply the findings established through your investigation of the challenges of your chosen brief. It evidences your ability to construct, direct and organise an overall professional outcome. This Final Collection is the vehicle by which you evaluate and reflect upon your own learning and skills in order to establish a potential career path. You will accompany your work with a career pack that will enable you to take up roles or pursue business objectives when you graduate from London College of Fashion.

All students are advised to set up a profile on portfolio.arts.ac.uk, UAL’s new portfolio platform, which can be done at any point during your time at LCF and will last for up to 12 months after graduation. This platform is often used to source student work for promotional use on the website, social media and for print and can be a great way of getting your work seen. You may also be asked to have a portfolio profile for the selection process when it comes to degree shows.

Learning and teaching methods

The following teaching and learning methods are employed to support the integrated achievement of the course outcomes using a blended learning mode of delivery:  

  • Lectures.
  • Seminars.
  • Physical workshops and practical demonstrations.
  • Tutorials.
  • Critiques (Crits).
  • Peer Learning.

Student work

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • 'Live House'
    'Live House', Zhe Wang, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Ben Kim
    Ben Kim, Ben Kim, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • AS THE RACE TIGHTENS
    AS THE RACE TIGHTENS, George Zverko, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • SLOW FIRE - Final Collection
    SLOW FIRE - Final Collection, Zhixin Li, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • 'Soft-Bondage' Final Collection
    'Soft-Bondage' Final Collection, Minxin Xu, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Graduate Showcase: shiyi fu
    shiyi fu, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, London College of Fashion, UAL

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear

Graduate work from the LCF summer series 2021

Latest news from this course

Staff

Tom Adams has been the Course Leader since 2008. Tom completed his PGCE in Teaching and Learning in Art and Design CLTAD and is recognised by the HEA as an associate fellow. Tom received a UAL teaching Award for curriculum design and delivery that supports diversity, retention, student experience and success. He worked in the fashion industry for 20 years, prior to commencing teaching. He has sold his collections in high-end shops, including Browns in London, Collette in Paris and Patricia Fields in New York, as well as creating clothes for many celebrities, including Robbie Williams, Darren Hayes, U2, Skin from Skunk Anansie and Bjork.

Nicholas Williams BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear realisation tutor is a pattern cutter, garment technologist and designer with a focus on menswear. Working as a pattern cutter, Nic has worked with menswear brands such as Carolyn Massey, Qasimi and Houndsdtich. Outside of menswear, Nic has worked on childrenswear and womenswear, In 2012 he founded pattern cutting company, Thomas Bowler with the aim to provide fashion designers with high quality patterns that translate their designs from sketch to final production ready patterns, working with a mixture of new designers and 1-1 clients. In 2013, Nic started teaching independently at LCF, working with companies such as ASOS to train staff in pattern cutting. Since 2014, Nic has taught at LCF as lecturer for Menswear 3D Development and Realisation, supporting students understanding of the 3D and the realisation process, whilst equipping them with relevant technical skills for industry and reflecting the current practise of industry.

Rory Parnell Mooney is a menswear designer and lecturer in design originally from Ireland. He has a BA in Fashion design menswear from the London College of Fashion and a Masters In fashion menswear from Central Saint Martins. Rory teaches across both London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins. Parnell-Mooney’s main research interests include sustainable fashion practice, alternative forms of fashion research and decolonizing and broadening the menswear curriculum.

Silvia Cimborova is a technical lecturer in Menswear for the BA (hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear course. She is a skilled pattern cutter and garment technologist with years of industry experience. She used to work as a freelancer for various high-end and high street companies. Silvia has worked on variety of projects specialising in menswear, womenswear, sportswear and dancewear. She has worked on projects for Liberty of London, Giles, French Connection, DSI London and Diadora. She has been teaching technical subjects to students at LCF since 2011, initially as an associate lecturer. Her strengths are in creative pattern cutting and garment construction. With years of experience she has gained a professional level of garment making skills. Silvia is an LCF graduate and therefore has a good understanding of the institution from students’ perspectives. In her role working as a technical lecturer, Silvia’s main objective is to successfully prepare students for the fashion industry.

Leonora  Eggenton is a senior technical lecturer in Menswear 3D Development.  She has worked as a lecturer at the London College of Fashion part time since the year 2000 across several BA Hons courses.  Leonora has completed her PG Cert in Teaching and Learning Art and Design CLTAD. She joined the Menswear team in 2018. Leonora’s specialism is creative pattern cutting and her experience in working as a designer allows her to help students to realise their designs through her strong communication and interpretation skills.  Leonora is a designer, pattern cutter and seamstress.  Her  30 years of industry experience enables her to provide an enriched teaching experience with glimpses of how things work in the Industry. She has worked at all levels of the market from High street, Top Shop, Miss Selfridge, Toast and many others to freelancing for designer level such as Jenny Packham, Mulberry and bespoke.   Over the last few years Leonora has trained as photographer and recently discovered new skills in the area of digital art.  This has organically grown into a personal project of designing textiles that are digitally printed.

Per Gotesson graduated from Beckmans College of Design, Stockholm in 2013. He went on to work as womenswear designer at Cheap Monday. In 2014 he relocated to London to complete his MA in Menswear at the Royal College of Art. During his final year he was chosen by Lulu Kennedy MBE to be given the opportunity to launch his brand under the umbrella of Fashion East in 2016.

His work touches on notions of belonging and travel, navigating the image of what it means to be a man in an inclusive and forward looking way. He uses and references traditional crafts techniques and draping whilst embracing and including emerging digital technologies. Establishing his signature as a visionary and innovative designer, through rethinking silhouette and masculinity he graduated from Fashion East after three successful seasons.

He subsequently presented his first stand-alone presentation on schedule at Machine A. The AW18 collection pioneered the presentation format, by linking it directly to the retail space. In June 2018 Per Gotesson was awarded the prestigious New Gen catwalk bursary by the British Fashion Council.

Per was named “Swedish Fashion talent of the year” by the Swedish Fashion Council in 2018. Commercial projects include work with Nick Knight and Absolut Vodka. His shows and collections have been extensively covered by high profile media, including Vogue Runway, Vogue UK, Dazed and ID.

Collaborations with designers and creatives, like jeweller Husam El Odeh, stylist and senior fashion editor of British GQ Style, jewellery designer Husam El Odeh and set designer Tony Hornecker have firmly rooted the brand at the heart of London’s fashion community. Alongside building the brand, Per is involved in educating the next generation of talent in his work as lecturer at London College of Fashion, where he teaches on the BA menswear courses. Per Gotesson attracts the support of a dedicated and actively engaged following, amongst international key social media influencers with a broad reach.  These include Condenast editor Sarah Mower MBE, Vogue editor Anders Christian Madsen, Turner Prize Panellist and Journalist Charlie Porter, British Fashion Award Winner Charles Jeffrey and celebrity buyer Stavros Karelis.

Jessica Saunders is the programme director for the Fashion Design Programme, which includes BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear and BA (Hons) Fashion Jewellery. Read Jessica Saunders' full profile here.

Rob Phillips is the creative director for the School of Design and Technology. Trained in fashion womenswear, surface textiles: print, menswear and illustration, Rob went on to become the fashion editor for International Textiles magazine and consultant for fashion brands. Rob's broad skill set of fashion design, process, graphics, presentation, typography, advertising and communication led to his appointment as creative director of Fashion Forecast magazine, where his progressive work promoting young fashion talent garnered him much acclaim from industry. Rob continues to nurture talent at LCF across all courses within the School, teaching holistically about fashion, developing the students’ full potential so they can make their unique contribution to the fashion industry. He furthers the work of the College through many routes, including industry projects, collaborations and competitions. He also curates and directs the School’s events including fashion shows, films, photoshoots, publications and exhibitions. Rob continues to contribute to industry as a fashion commentator (BBC, The Guardian, SHOWstudio and more) and as creative consultant for fashion brands. Read Rob Phillips' full profile here.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.

  • 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include, Art, Design, English, Maths);
  • Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma in Art & Design;
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 new UCAS tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
  • or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum;
  • and three GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4.

Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • related academic or work experience;
  • the quality of the personal statement;
  • a strong academic or other professional reference;
  • or a combination of these factors.

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements

Selection criteria

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • a strong interest in fashion, visual imagery and an awareness of technology;
  • an understanding of the need for a critical and analytical approach to the area of study;
  • an approach suited to the demands of the course and the projected career futures.

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W293

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W293

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • feature work that showcases your skills in technical drawing and construction
  • illustrate your ability to think and work in 3D
  • demonstrate your knowledge of different fabrics and materials
  • demonstrate your ability to effectively present ideas in a visual context
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you experiment and develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts behind the contemporary fashion industry.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

All of our undergraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:

  • An on-course work experience or placement year. Please note, this is not available on every course; please see the Course Details section for information about work placement opportunities.
  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.

Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level can progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Career paths

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Graduates such as JW Anderson, Palomo Spain, Carl Jan Cruiz, and John Skelton have set up successful global brands since graduation.

Graduates also secure design positions in companies ranging from high end companies such as Chanel, Lanvin, Acne Studios or high street brand such as Topman Designs, Asos, Zara etc.

The technical aspects of the course allow students to pursue careers such as garment technologists, machinists and studio managers.