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Short course

Activewear Design Short Course

Gain valuable insight into the thriving activewear industry in this short course at London College of Fashion. Understand growing market opportunities for 'beyond the gym' activewear that prioritises consumer needs.

Next start months
August 2026
August 2027
Tutor(s)
Penny Warner
Price
From £600.00

Course description

Course overview

The Activewear Design Short Course offers a valuable insight into the thriving activewear industry and the rising market opportunities for 'beyond the gym' activewear that prioritises consumer needs.

Students build their knowledge through a combination of independent work, PowerPoints, practical workshops, one-to-one tutorials and regular group feedback. Students gain an insight into the process of trend forecasting and the importance of emerging materials and colour trends in the activewear sector, examining innovation and brand innovators.

The course explores customer profiling and how to create accurate working drawings for use in the planning and making process. Students create an individual concept to explore their design content and develop a final illustrated line up of their own creative capsule collection.

Please note that this is a creative design-based course and does not include any garment construction work or pattern cutting. Students are encouraged to work independently after each session to get the most out of the course.

You can take your learning further with our complementary courses in this field: Sportswear Design Short Course and Starting an Athleisure Business Short Course.


This course is available in two formats: a 5-week evening course or a 3-day course.

Who this course is for

This short course is aimed at fashion designers, foundation students, graduates, creatives and those looking to change career. Students should have a creative eye, a passion for fashion forward activewear and a desire to learn.

The course would be an excellent fit for those looking for support and mentoring to take them to the next level, as well as those who want to learn a new skill. Students will need to have basic IT skills to produce a concept board and basic drawing skills.

Key information

Topics covered

  • The process of trend forecasting and the importance of emerging materials and colour trends in the sector
  • Creating a 'concept' and how it influences design and drives creativity
  • Design and development using mixed media techniques to convey your ideas
  • How to implement a design idea for industry level manufacturing with the necessary toolkit
  • Design and illustrate your own capsule collection as a line-up

Learning outcomes

  • Gained an insight into how trend forecasting influences design and drives creativity
  • Learnt about the importance of creating a concept board
  • An understanding of the importance of activewear materials and colour trends emerging in the sector
  • Developed effective ways to use mixed media techniques for design development
  • A sound knowledge of the customer profile
  • An insight into how to create a working drawing for industry level manufacturing with the necessary toolkit
  • Become familiar with creating a specification sheet (technical pack) and range plan
  • Designed and illustrated their own capsule collection as a line-up
  • Produced a body of work that could contribute to a portfolio for industry and/or further study
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance.

Materials

Required materials:

  • Tablet / laptop
  • A4 Layout paper pad
  • Technical / mechanical pencil
  • Eraser
  • Fine line black drawing pen
  • Selection of materials for your colour work (e.g. coloured pencils, paints, inks, felt pens, chalk, brushes etc)
  • Magazines for collage

Recommended materials:

  • Anything interesting for collaging e.g. tissue, newspaper, fabric/paper scraps
  • Coloured tape
  • Yarns
  • Wool
  • Ribbons
  • Needle/thread

Tutor

Penny Warner

Penny Warner is a highly experienced Fashion Designer and educator with a career spanning 40 years in the fashion industry and 16 years in education. She has a vast range of experience with many high profile businesses and has leveraged many students to the next step in their career.
Penny specialises in Womenswear, and as a fashion student of the early eighties, was heavily influenced by Vivienne Westwood and the punk movement. Her versatile background has seen Penny partner and collaborate with high profile industry names including; Jasper Conran, Matthew Williamson, Jenny Packham and John Rocha. She started her career in London's West End and went on to work with Pepe Jeans, Monsoon, Marks & Spencer, ASOS, and Boohoo, to name a few.
Penny has been teaching since 2008 as an Associate Lecturer for; LCF: BA (Hons) Fashion Pattern Cutting & BA (Hons) Fashion Design/Development, UCA Epsom: BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier and Tailoring, and UCA Rochester: BA (Hons) Fashion Design for 15 years.
Penny nurtures a relaxed and creative environment in her classroom. The lectures and workshops she facilitates are carefully constructed to inform and inspire students to be as creative as possible, and she is passionate about making design accessible for all. 

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