Explore new possibilities with a short course
- Written byCarys Thomas
- Published date 12 October 2023
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Software engineer and fashion enthusiast Benjamin Possolo has taken several short courses with us over the years including the Professional Sewing Skills Short Course and Embroidery Level 1 Short Course.
In 2019, Benjamin won our summer school competition for his brilliant work and continues to enjoy experimenting with a range of creative activities from knitwear and pattern cutting to embroidery and painting for textiles.
We caught up with Benjamin at Central Saint Martins to hear more about his work and short course experience.
Benjamin has always been interested in the relationship between fashion and art. “I’m really interested in garment construction and the more artisanal elements behind fashion,” he says.
“I’ve been studying technical pattern cutting for several years and complementing it with more elective types of courses at London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins.”
“The very first course I took was a men’s tailoring course at London College of Fashion,” says Benjamin. “It was an incredible experience, we got to go visit some of the tailoring shops in Savile Row and made a full men’s jacket from start to finish.”
Watch Benjamin talk about his short course experience
Knitwear
Benjamin recently completed our Knitwear For Fashion Beginners Short Course at Central Saint Martins. “The knitwear course is unlike anything else I’ve done here,” he says. “I found the machines very intimidating at the beginning, but it’s been surprisingly simple in how productive you can be in making large swabs of knit fabric or textile very quickly."
“We’ve learnt different techniques for modifying how your textile looks, including lots of ways to manipulate it in very different creative ways, as well as how to mix yarns and create colour combinations.”
Sewing and embroidery
On our Embroidery Level 1 Short Course, Benjamin enjoyed experimenting with different types of hand stitches. “We also did some stump work,” he says, “which is where you’re embroidering on a special metallic kind of outline, which then allows you to cut out your embroidery and attach it to a sweater or other item.”
“Towards the end of the course, we had more freedom to create our own things,” Benjamin explains. “The main project we got to take away was a needlebook that we all individually created and embroidered on to store all of our embroidery and needles in.”
Building connections
For Benjamin, one of the highlights of studying with UAL Short Courses has been the connections he’s made with the students and tutors that he’s met along the way.
“One of the things that I really like about taking short courses at London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins is the friendships that I’ve developed,” he says. “There are people that I’ve met on a 5-day course that I still talk to several years later.”
“The people that come here are all very unique and special in some way or another, and it’s one of the main motivators for me to come every year.”
Feeling inspired? Take a look at our range of short courses in fashion design, fashion making and textiles.
Check out our upcoming short courses to find out what's coming up.
