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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Print

Female model in cream and blue material.
Student work by Kim Chandra Forgie | BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles Print | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion UCAS code
5Y77 Start date
September 2023 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.

Apply to start in September 2023 

This course has places available for UK applicants only. Read our Guide to applying for a course starting this September through UCAS Extra.

We are no longer accepting applications from international students for 2023/24 entry to this course. Applications for 2024/25 entry will open in Autumn 2023.

For a full list of UAL courses open for 2023/24 entry, visit the Courses with places available page.

Course undergoing re-approval

Please note this course is undergoing re-approval. This is the process by which we ensure the course continues to provide a high quality academic experience. During re-approval there may be some changes to the course content displayed on this page. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

    • Individuality: This course allows you to work on projects that allow you to explore your own creative interests, beliefs and design issues.
    • Unique textiles course, fashion community - The study of print for fashion 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 print: Textiles pathways are led by the philosophy of contemporary digital design interlinked with traditional craft techniques. The Print pathway offers the ability to design and produce bespoke craft and digital print for products across the range of the fashion industries. Print students are supported with access to craft print workshops and the Digital Print Bureau which is equipped with the latest AVA CAD / CAM software and Mimaki digital printers.
    • Industry placement: Placements with established and emerging companies have included JW Anderson, Richard Quinn, Kit Neale, and Christopher Kane. 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 open day for this course is taking place on Tuesday 4 July. Book your place.

Course overview

Introduction 

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Print 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.  The print pathway celebrates the hand-rendered ‘handwriting’ of each designer, through creative drawing and technical production techniques. 

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Print 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 sustainability, identity, and ethical issues.  

What to expect 

  • Exploited creative process – You will be introduced to new ways of seeing to exploit 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 the Fashion Cultures and Histories Research Centre, enabling you to appreciate the bigger narrative of the subject area, its cultural historical context and the impact of your practice. 

  • Varied services - Outside of taught sessions you are expected to make the most of the open access 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 DRAW Fashion, Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) Bradford Textile Society, 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 JW Anderson, Richard Quinn, Kit Neale, and Christopher Kane. 

Mode of study 

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

 

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

Year One, Block One

Projects encourage open and diverse responses reflecting students own environment/ cultures/ inspiration. You’ll be introduced to core skills and you will be able to tailor your project themes to your interests to develop your creative practice, analytical thinking, drawing, making, and specialist subject. 

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 based on cultural and international theories and themes in creative industries.  Simulating industry practice, you’ll be introduced to working in an interdisciplinary textile collective with fashion students exploring how materials can inspire inventive, ethical and topical design proposals. The Better Lives unit will begin with an exploration of diversity, social responsibility and sustainability, you will aim to identify how creativity can be promoted by exploring how fashion can build better lives. 

Fashion Cultures and Histories 20 credits 

Introduction to Industry Practice 20 credits 

Better Lives  20 Credits 

Year Two, Block One

Future Craft 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.  

Critical Issues in Fashion Research unit allows you to choose an option covering a current cultural theme in fashion studies, forming a backbone to investigations for final year study. 

Future Craft 20 credits 

Critical Issues in Fashion Research 20 credits 

Year Two Block Two

You complete a term placement in industry, offering highly valuable real-life industry experience, with established and emerging companies – local and international.  

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. 

Designer Identity 40 credits 

Textiles and Creative Industries Experience 40 credits 

Year Three, Block One

The year kicks off with a highly-creative explorative term, generating your own design theme and concept alongside active creative testing, prototyping and making in your specialist subject to generate innovate potential. 

Contextualising Your Practice 20 credits 

Design Synthesis 40 Credits 

Year Three, Block Two

In response to Block One, you’ll consolidate and plan your own programme of work for your final textile collection, where you’ll develop a professional textile/ fashion industry portfolio you require to confidently present yourself to the design industry. Work completed 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:

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

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Graduate Showcase

Student and graduate work

  • Aro-3.jpg
    Work by Aro
  • Aro-4.jpg
    Work by Aro
  • Heather-Yan-2.jpg
    Work by Heather-Yan
  • Jiwon-Choi-1.jpg
    Work by Jiwon Choi
  • Sofia-Marino-3.jpg
    Work by Sofia Marino

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Print

Graduate work from the LCF summer series 2021

Latest news from this course

LCF facilities

  • Library, John Princes Street
    Library, John Princes Street Photography by: Ideal Insight
    LCF library and archives

    Take a tour of LCF's world renowned fashion library, ideal for research and study.

  • Student at sewing machine in sewing room at Lime Grove, London College of Fashion
    Student at sewing machine in sewing room at Lime Grove, London College of Fashion. Photography by Ideal Insight.
    Textiles facilities at Lime Grove

    Take a tour of Lime Grove's textiles facilities from construction labs to knitwear machinery.

  • Canteen, Mare Street
    Canteen, Mare Street Photography by: Ideal Insight
    LCF's social spaces

    Explore our social spaces, for collaborative study and breaks, across our six sites in London.

  • LCF at Stratford Exterior Design
    LCF at Stratford Exterior Design
    LCF's move

    LCF is moving to a new single campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2023. Find more information about the College’s relocation.

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. Read Laura Bell's full profile here.

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.

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.

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.

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. Read Rob Phillips' full profile here.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

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

£25,970 per year

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

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.

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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 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 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
  • A strong interest in surface pattern and an engagement with mark making and graphic imagery

Apply now

Home International

Places available 2023/24 

This course has places available for UK applicants only for 2023/24 entry.

This section includes all the information you need on how to apply, how your application is considered and what happens next.

You should apply through UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – and you will need the following information:

University code:          U65

UCAS Code:                 5Y77

We do not consider applications for Year 2 and Year 3 Entry for this course.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

Transfers

If you are currently studying somewhere else on a course in an equivalent subject area and would like to transfer to this course, you can transfer to:

  • Year 2 - if you’ve completed 120 credits in Year 1.
  • Year 3 - if you’ve completely 240 credits in Years 1 and 2.

Apply via UCAS and choose Year 2 or 3 for your POE (Point of Entry)

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and Year 1/Year 2 unit transcripts.

If you are an International applicant and studying outside the UK, please complete your Direct application and then contact us via your UAL Portal to ask to be considered for Year 2/Year 3.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Application deadline

We recommend you apply by 18:00 PM (GMT) on  25 January 2023 for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Applications for this course can only be accepted for this year of entry.

What happens next

All application forms, personal statements and references are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry requirements and Selection Criteria sections.

If you have achieved or expect to achieve the standard entry requirements we will invite you to submit a portfolio via PebblePad, our online submission tool, which should include a number of images of your work. You can upload a maximum of 30 images which best shows your work – please note however that you do not have to provide this exact number. PebblePad refers to ‘images’ when you upload your work - think of each 'image' as a page in your physical portfolio.

For this course your portfolio should show evidence of: observational drawing; presentation skills; contemporary fashion/cultural awareness; a level of research, analysis and experimentation; engagement with texture and form; practical manipulation skills; construction/technical competence; potential to think/work in 3D; and visual communication skills.

The portfolio is assessed by Academic Reviewers who will decide if they are able to make an offer based on the work you have demonstrated. It may be, however, that the tutor wishes to speak with you further about your work and so you will be invited to attend an online interview. At the interview the Academic Reviewer will discuss your portfolio that you submitted in PebblePad; it will be possible to show more of your work during the interview if the tutor feels it necessary for you to do so.

Please note that not all applicants will be invited to attend interview.

If you are made an offer, you will have the opportunity to engage with course teams at a number of planned engagement activities, where you will be able to ask any questions you may have and also speak to current students studying on the course.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

If you applied through UCAS the result of your application will be communicated to you via UCAS through UCAS Track. You will only receive further communication directly from the College if your application has been successful. This will be in the form of a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.

Applications closed 2023/24 

We are no longer accepting applications from international students for 2023/24 entry to this course. Applications for 2024/25 entry will open in Autumn 2023.

This section includes all the information you need on how to apply, how your application is considered and what happens next.

There are 2 ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course:

You must apply through UCAS, where you will need the following information:

  • University code – U65
  • UCAS course code – 5Y77

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Applications for this course can only be accepted for this year of entry. Applications for deferred entry cannot be accepted. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

Transfers

If you are currently studying somewhere else on a course in an equivalent subject area and would like to transfer to this course, you can transfer to:

  • Year 2 - if you’ve completed 120 credits in Year 1.
  • Year 3 - if you’ve completely 240 credits in Years 1 and 2.

Apply via UCAS and choose Year 2 or 3 for your POE (Point of Entry)

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and Year 1/Year 2 unit transcripts.

If you are an International applicant and studying outside the UK, please complete your Direct application and then contact us via your UAL Portal to ask to be considered for Year 2/Year 3.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Application deadline

We recommend you apply by 18:00 PM (GMT) on  25 January 2023 for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.

What happens next

Immigration History Check

Whether you are applying online via UCAS or through a UAL representative you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to identify whether you are eligible to study at UAL. Do be aware, if you do not complete the Immigration History Check we will not be able to proceed with your application.

Initial application check

All application forms, personal statements and references are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry requirements and Selection Criteria sections.

If you have achieved or expect to achieve the standard entry requirements we will invite you to submit a portfolio via PebblePad, our online submission tool, which should include a number of images of your work. You can upload a maximum of 30 images which best shows your work – please note however that you do not have to provide this exact number. PebblePad refers to ‘images’ when you upload your work - think of each 'image' as a page in your physical portfolio.

For this course your portfolio should show evidence of: observational drawing; presentation skills; contemporary fashion/cultural awareness; a level of research, analysis and experimentation; engagement with texture and form; practical manipulation skills; construction/technical competence; potential to think/work in 3D; and visual communication skills.

The portfolio is assessed by Academic Reviewers who will decide if they are able to make an offer based on the work you have demonstrated. It may be, however, that the tutor wishes to speak with you further about your work and so you will be invited to attend an online interview. At the interview the Academic Reviewer will discuss your portfolio that you submitted in PebblePad; it will be possible to show more of your work during the interview if the tutor feels it necessary for you to do so.

Please note that not all applicants will be invited to attend interview.

If you are made an offer, you will have the opportunity to engage with course teams at a number of planned engagement activities, where you will be able to ask any questions you may have and also speak to current students studying on the course.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

If you applied through UCAS the result of your application will be communicated to you via UCAS through UCAS Track. If you have applied directly or through an agent, we will notify you through the UAL portal. You will only receive further communication directly from the College if your application has been successful. This will be in the form of a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.

After you apply

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this Portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Once we’ve reviewed and assessed your application, we’ll contact you via UCAS Track or the UAL Portal to let you know whether your application has been successful.

Potential changes to course structure

Please note: the information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course. Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year. In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.

Webpage updates

We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please use the enquiry form above.

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
20 John Prince's Street
London

W1G 0BJ