Sportswear Design Short Course
Course description
Course overview
The global sportswear and performance apparel industry continues to grow at an accelerated rate, driven by rising interest in health and fitness, the expansion of athleisure, and increasing consumer demand for technical, functional, and sustainably‑developed garments. As one of the most innovative and commercially resilient segments of the fashion industry, sportswear uniquely blends performance, material technology, and contemporary design—creating strong opportunities for new designers.
This practical and inspiring short course offers a comprehensive introduction to the sportswear design process. You'll learn how to research, design and plan collections that balance functionality with aesthetic impact, equipping you with foundational industry knowledge suitable for further study or entry‑level roles in the sportswear, activewear, and athleisure markets.
Through hands‑on design tasks, market profiling exercises and exploratory concept development, students gain the creative tools needed to begin a sportswear design journey. The course encourages both independent and collaborative work, supported by expert guidance and regular feedback.
Why Sportswear?
Sportswear represents one of the fastest‑growing global apparel markets, fuelled by:
- The rise of fitness culture and wellness‑driven lifestyles
- Hybrid living habits and demand for versatile garments
- Advancements in fabric innovation, performance materials and sustainable technologies
- Increased blurring between fashion, sport and leisure
- A strong, continually expanding consumer base across demographics
By understanding the principles of sportswear design, students are better equipped to enter this sector that values creativity, innovation and forward‑thinking design solutions.
You can take your learning further with our complementary courses in this field: Starting an Athleisure Business Short Course and Activewear Design 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 course is ideal for aspiring apparel designers, emerging creatives, activewear enthusiasts, and anyone aged over 18 who is interested in understanding how performance, function and style merge in the sportswear industry.
No previous experience is required. Please note, this is a design‑based course that doesn’t cover garment construction or pattern cutting.
Key information
Topics covered
- Sketching for sportswear design
- Garment and trend analysis, including performance design trends
- Market and consumer profiling for the global sportswear industry
- Fabric knowledge, technical materials and functional textile innovations
- Fit, body contouring and performance considerations
- Range planning and design development
- Concept development and visual presentation skills
- Portfolio creation tailored to sportswear and activewear brands
Learning outcomes
- Have an understanding of the essential components of sportswear fashion design, including key industry market dynamics
- Work on developing sportswear concepts from research to initial design output
- Explore and apply market profiling, planning and conceptual thinking to develop a mini design project
- Produce sketching, concept boards and development work suitable for inclusion in a design portfolio
- Receive a digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- A4 paper, sketchbook or notepad
- A4 layout pad
- Pencils, pens, colours, highlighters, markers
- Eraser, scissors, ruler, glue stick
- Post‑it notes
- USB stick or cloud storage access
- Smartphone/digital camera
- Laptop or tablet
Tutor
Cristina Adami
Cristina Adami is an Italian designer based in Clerkenwell, London. After completing a BA in Visual Communication at the prestigious Institute Superiore Industrie Artistiche (ISIA) of Urbino in 1997 she completed her studies with an MA in Design Studies at CSM in 2001. Her fascination with fashion and technology inspired her dissertation research into the role of clothing in the absence of gravity. This let to work in Sportswear, Activewear and Swimwear. Her design work encompassed development of technical textile for athletes, collaborations with international clubs and sponsorships including creating specific lines for the Olympic Games and the development of speed enhancing fabric Powerskin.
Throughout the years Cristina has also designed for a number of UK and International brands and retailers. Cristina’s design work is distinguished by a mix of functionality and bohemian aesthetic. Brands she worked for include Arena International, Fila, Fifa, David Lloyd, Firetrap, Monsoon, Jaeger, Maison Derhy, Victoria’s Secret as well as designing Florence Welch first US tour costumes and the Julian McDonald range at Debenhams.
As an educator Cristina supports students creativity by encouraging self-expression and team work development. Her teaching combines theoretical background with industry based workshops that links learning to real life example preparing students to industry.
Cristina current research is in the role of AI visualisation to aid creativity and development. Her focus is the role of analogue creative techniques in a digitalised world. She questions the importance of creative experimentation in relation to technological advancement. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible is central to her practice and her pedagogy, encouraging students to explore possibilities out of the beaten track to find their own authentic voice.
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