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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery

Close up of red, patterned embroidery.
Student work by Seren Howells for the UAL Graduate Showcase 2021 titled, 'Hiraeth - A Deep Sense of Yearning for Home.' | BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion UCAS code
9H55 Start date
September 2024 Course length
3 years

The Textiles department at London College of Fashion consists of three pathway degrees (Print: Knit; Embroidery) each having a specialist focus, whilst encouraging varied and diverse textile design responses. The Textiles team have a renowned reputation for fostering individuality with our creative makers and we equip you with the tools to become a visionary textile designer for the broader context of fashion. You can exploit your creative potential and respond to the world around you within a specialist fashion environment that stimulates a culture of creativity.

Applications closed 2024/25 

We are no longer accepting applications for 2024/25 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

    • Individuality – This course allows you to work on projects that allow you to explore your creative interests, beliefs and design issues.
    • Unique: textiles course, fashion community - The study of mixed-media embellishment / embroidery within a specialist fashion environment is unique to studying textiles at London College of Fashion. The course echoes industry practice with an embedded collaborative project with fashion courses, alongside textile pathways for dynamic interdisciplinary textile design.
    • Specialist embroidery – The Embroidery pathway has the most extensive range of specialist embroidery craft machines within the UK and dedicated CAD / CAM embroidery and laser cutting / engraving facilities. The pathway focuses on the experimentation of mixed-media processes and the philosophy of contemporary digital design interlinked with traditional craft techniques.
    • Industry placement - Placements with established and emerging companies have included Alexander McQueen, Hand & Lock, Chanel, and Simone Rocha. Live project partners have included Adidas, the Bow Arts Museum, Burberry, and Arcadia, as well as Charles Jeffery in conjunction with the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.

Open days

The next LCF Open Day is taking place on Saturday 5 October.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction 

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery focuses on inventive approaches to the development and realisation of contemporary fashion textiles. We believe that technology and skills inform the design process and foster creativity.  Students on this specialist embroidery (mixed-media) pathway explore embellishment, surface pattern and texture for fashion materials. 

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery principles:   

  • Individual designer identity 
  • Innovative craft and digital processes 
  • Dynamic collaborative fashion community 
  • Your creative interests, beliefs and design issues explore forward-thinking fashion concerns such as inclusive design, sustainability, identity, and ethical issues.

What to expect 

  • New creative environments– You will be introduced to new ways of seeing to push your creativity as a designer and provide fresh eyes to the world around you.  
  • Your designer identity – Students will explore different design methodologies and research/development processes. You will develop your creative practice through experimental engagement with materials and processes in specialist textile workshop studios. This will help you to build your design foundation and aesthetic. 
  • Tailored - Many projects on the course allow you to choose a direction that best suits your interests, beliefs, and career goals as a textile designer. 
  • Diverse - You design for a diverse range of fashion market-levels, not limited to gender, driven by your own fashion concerns such as sustainability, identity, and ethical issues. 
  • Fashion theory - Your critical thinking and contextual awareness is supported by Fashion Cultures and Histories Units, enabling you to appreciate the bigger narrative of the subject area, its cultural historical context, and the impact of your practice. 
  • Value added support - Outside of taught sessions you are expected to make the most of the Supervised Studio workshops, digital IT facilities and library services. LCF promotes competitions and extra-curricular activities, such as study trips outside of London and abroad. 

Work experience and opportunities 

Fashion textiles students participate in international opportunities, winning awards with annual textile competitions such as Hand and Lock, DRAW Fashion, Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) Bradford Textile Society, Framework Knitters and FAD with Fashion Scout at London Fashion Week. Students have had opportunities to participate in international Trade Shows including Premier Vision, Paris and New Designers London, and have also participated in the Kering Award Competition with brands including Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, and Gucci. Our students continue to receive press across a wide range of international publications including Dazed & Confused, Vogue and I-D. Placements with established and emerging companies have included Alexander McQueen, Hand & Lock, Chanel and Simone Rocha. 

Mode of study 

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery 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 developing ethical fashion textiles embroidery practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

Year One, Block One

Your first-year projects explore how creativity and textiles can be powerful for realising positive change. Your Introduction to Fashion Textiles unit will direct you an exploration of themes; including diversity, social responsibility, and sustainability, that will underpin your future creativity. This unit will be delivered using a combination of seminars, workshops, lectures, and group activities. First year projects encourage open and diverse responses reflecting students' own environment, cultures, and inspiration. Your Experimental Process unit will introduce you to core practical skills, in your specialist area, through demonstration and studio practice. In this experimental unit, there will be a focus on the importance of research, drawing, colour skills and creative concepts to inform the originality of design and your creative practice. 

  • Introduction to Fashion Textiles: Print; Knit; Embroidery 20 credits 
  • Experimental Process: Print; Knit; Embroidery 40 credits 

Year One, Block Two

Fashion Cultures and Histories unit is based on cultural and international theories and themes in creative industries and will be delivered though a lecture programme supported by seminars and workshops It will engage you in debate and analysis of fashion as a key marker of social and cultural change and a means of understanding the relationship between individuals and communities.  

Simulating industry practice, in the Introduction to Industries Practice unit you’ll have the opportunity to work as part of a collaborative textiles and fashion design team to co-create a ‘capsule collection’, alongside building an individual textiles range for an industry audience. This unit will provide a further opportunity to explore important design themes, individually as well as in an interdisciplinary textile and design collective; exploring how materials can inspire inventive, ethical and topical design proposals

  • Fashion Cultures and Histories 20 credits 
  • Introduction to Industry Practice 40 credits 

Year Two, Block One

Future Craft unit asks you to carefully consider the future of textile design and production through research and consideration of the environmental, social, and cultural impact of your textiles on a global level. A dual emphasis is placed on the innovative use of traditional hand and craft techniques with digital processes to promote the idea of sustaining textile crafts in the future. The unit aims you to prepare you to predict, influence and inform global forecasting that inspires the fashion industry as well as increasing your contextual knowledge and technical skills within your textiles specialism. You will be asked to explore the possibilities of creating and promoting a directional range of fashion textiles to external clients including real or simulated industry and/ or cross course designers.

Critical Issues in Fashion Research unit is delivered through a series of Research Projects and will introduce you to a range of urgent and emerging debates within fashion research and will expand your critical understanding of fashion in a global context. You will be introduced to a range of approaches to researching fashion across its social, historical, political, and cultural contexts, building on themes studied in the first-year unit ‘Fashion Cultures and Histories’. You will choose a Research Project and participate in seminars that will provide you with the critical tools to interrogate fashion and its diverse cultures and practices through research and academic writing.

  • Future Craft 20 credits 
  • Critical Issues in Fashion Research 20 credits 

Year Two, Block Two

In the second year of study there’s the opportunity to complete a term placement in industry, offering highly valuable real-life industry experience, with established and emerging companies – local and international. The Textiles and Creative Industries Experience unit will increase your awareness of the industry, and opportunities with the creative industries. Industry experiences are strengthened further by working in a cross-discipline fashion and textile design team to develop an industry-led collection, alongside exploring your own designer identity project; the Designer Identity unit will challenge you to consider your place, role and identity within the fashion textiles industry including the development of inclusive, forward-thinking, creative design propositions. Delivery of the unit will include tutor and peer group discussion and critiques, supported with lectures, demonstrations, and workshops

  • Designer Identity 40 credits
  • Textiles and Creative Industries Experience 40 credits 

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 Textiles: Embroidery (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 Textiles: Embroidery (with Apple Development).

Year Three, Block One

The third year kicks off with a highly creative explorative term, where you will be generating your own design theme and concept alongside active creative testing, prototyping and making in your specialist subject to generate innovate potential. The Design Synthesis unit asks you to explore and define your chosen direction and audience for your textiles. With the focus being exploration, the project outcomes are tailored to your aspiring direction and outcomes may vary depending on your personal direction. This unit will explore and inform design for possible futures and prepare you for the Final Major Project in Block Two. The Contextualising Practice unit develops your historical and theoretical understanding of fashion through a research-led, extended essay.

  • Contextualising Practice 20 credits 
  • Design Synthesis 40 Credits 

Year Three, Block Two 

In response to Block One, in the Final Major Project unit, you’ll consolidate and plan your own programme of work for your final textile collection, where you’ll develop a professional textile/ fashion industry body of work you require to confidently present yourself to the design industry. Your final work can be further enhanced with collaborative connections with the dynamic fashion courses. 

  • Final Major Project 60 credits 

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: 

  • Demonstrations, workshop practices.
  • Lectures, seminars, and workshops.
  • Group discussions and team working.
  • Self-directed study simulations and work experience.

UAL Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Innovation Craft
    Innovation Craft, WANRU ZHAO, 2024 BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery, London College of Fashion, UAL

    WANRU ZHAO

  • Day in the life
    Day in the life, Pippa Newport, 2024 BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery, London College of Fashion, UAL

    Pippa Newport

  • House of Lilacs
    House of Lilacs , Clementine Woodard, 2024 BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery, London College of Fashion, UAL

    Clementine Woodard

  • Cultureel Imtizag (Cultural Fusion)
    Cultureel Imtizag (Cultural Fusion), Soha Bokhari, 2024 BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery, London College of Fashion, UAL

    Soha Bokhari

  • ROOM
    ROOM, Xinying Wang, 2024 BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery, London College of Fashion, UAL

    Xinying Wang

  • See more work by students on this course on UAL Showcase

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Embroidery

Graduate work from the LCF summer series 2021

Latest news from this course

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Staff

Laura Bell is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles at London College of Fashion with academic leadership in the specialist area of fashion textiles, which incorporates print, knit and embroidery.She puts emphasis on design innovation, raising awareness and challenging attitudes within fashion textiles on the global impact of design and how it can be used as a positive force for change. She’s won student-led awards for her teaching and her professional experience extends to Enterprise and Business Start-Up consultancy.Her research interests focus on the inter-disciplinary and collaborative approach to textiles and design and encouraging students with individual creative empowerment to realise their full potential within the field of textiles and pedagogical practice. Working with luxury companies such as Preen by Thornton and Bregazzi, she has over 15 years experience across specialist roles in textile design, womenswear and illustration, exhibiting her work in Europe, Japan and New York. View Laura Bell's full profile here.

Polly Kenny is the Programme Director for Materials and has an MA in Fashion Studies. Her industry experience is extensive and has been through collaborative partnerships with, for example, Broderie Anglaise and Peter Wright Europe Ltd, with clients, including Ronit Zilka and Morris Angels, and at the industry’s textile fairs. She is a member of the Higher Education Academy and Vice Chair of the London Branch of the Society of Dyers and Colourists. Her practice-based research focuses on the mark of the hand through digital and craft processes investigating the archive and textile memories.

Michela Carraro is the specialist fashion design tutor for the Fashion Textile courses. She has worked for numerous luxury brands including Alexander McQueen, Biba and Danielle Scutt and has created independent capsule collections that have been showcased in Milan and London. She has collaborated with many photographers and artists including stylist Sarah Richardson on a variety of projects, advertisements and editorial fashion stories for: ID, Russian Vogue, Elle US. Her teaching focuses on design underpinned by the relationship between textile development and the principles of 3D design interpretation.

Amanda Griffiths is a design lecturer for the BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles course and teaches Design across the Textiles specialisms. Amanda is a graduate from the RCA and has been a visiting lecturer and Personal Tutor on the RCA Textiles course for many years. She has worked Internationally as an In house Knitwear Designer for companies such as Maxmara, Whistles and Liberty London and has worked as a freelance knitwear designer and consultant, selling to clients such as DKNY, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, Gap, French Connection among others. She is also a partner in Jeff Cottenden Photography. Clients include, The Royal Opera House, Barbican, Sony, Conde Nast, and Penguin Random House. Amanda has an extensive range of Higher Education experience in the UK.

Sarah Cheyne is a design lecturer for the BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles course and an MA graduate from the RCA. With over 20 years experience in the creative industries including running her Dalston-based design studio. Sarah has created textile designs for clients in Europe, USA and Japan, selling to an international clientele including Christian Dior, Guy Laroche, Aquascutum, Calvin Klein & Macy’s. As an alumni of Texprint (TexSelect) Sarah has worked with the organisation for over 20 years, helping launch the careers of talented textile graduates. As projects coordinator she has arranged paid internships with companies such as Paul Smith and Liberty, accompanied prizewinners to Shanghai to exhibit their work at Intertextiles, and is frequently invited as a member of the judging panel for the prestigious TexSelect awards.

Rob Phillips is the Creative Director for the School of Design and Technology. Trained in fashion womenswear, surface textiles: print, menswear and illustration. Rob nurtures 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. Rob continues to contribute to industry as a fashion commentator (BBC, The Guardian, SHOWstudio and more) and as creative consultant for fashion brands. View 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

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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 and Maths);
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects Art & Design);
  • Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 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 range of drawing skills and a commitment to drawing as a tool for communication and investigation
  • A strong awareness of the importance of colour
  • An understanding of research and how it underpins the design process
  • A strong interest in textiles and fashion and commitment to professional self-development, including independent learning
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, linked with an enquiring and innovative approach to study
  • Evidence of engagement with texture and form and practical manipulation skills

Apply now

Applications closed 2024/25 

We are no longer accepting applications for 2024/25 entry to this course. Applications for 2025/26 entry will open in Autumn 2024.

Apply now

Applications closed 2024/25 

We are no longer accepting applications for 2024/25 entry to this course. Applications for 2025/26 entry will open in Autumn 2024.

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
  • showcase your skills in observational drawing, practical manipulation and construction techniques
  • demonstrate your engagement and experimentation with texture, form and 3D work
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts of contemporary fashion
  • demonstrate your understanding of visual communication principles.

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.

Career paths

Our graduates have worked for renowned companies such as Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Mary Katranzou, Victoria Beckham, as well as a range of commercial companies, and textile studios internationally. Experiences gained through collaborative practice has also supported enterprise initiatives, seeing many of our graduates establish their own companies internationally.

Alumni

London College of Fashion

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7400

Address

105 Carpenter's Road
London

E20 2AR