Fashion: Design for Manufacture: NC (Level 6)

Two fashion students laughing while working on design patterns in a classroom.

Qualification

Study Mode

Full Time

Duration

1 Year - 2.5 Days per week

Start date

Aug 2026

Campus

Springburn

Applications open January 2026

Course overview

Create, design and bring your fashion ideas to life.

This hands-on course provides the essential foundation for a future in fashion design, production and retail. You’ll develop creative, technical and digital skills across all areas of the fashion process — from initial sketch to finished garment — while exploring how the industry operates behind the seams.

You’ll study key disciplines such as design development, garment manufacture, textiles, digital design and fashion retail, gaining the knowledge and confidence to progress into higher-level study or entry-level roles in the fashion industry.

Taught by experienced staff with industry insight, this course is the perfect starting point for those planning to move on to the HND Fashion Design & Production with Retail or the HND Costume For Stage & Screen courses at Glasgow Kelvin College.

This course is ideal for:

Creative individuals interested in design, styling, or garment production.
Learners who want to develop practical making and digital fashion skills.
Those aiming to progress to HND-level study in fashion, costume, or retail.
Students seeking a solid grounding in both the creative and technical sides of fashion.

What you will learn

You’ll gain a broad understanding of the design process and manufacturing techniques used across the fashion industry, including:

Fashion Design Principles – research, mood boards and design development.
Digital Design for Fashion – creative use of technology for pattern and concept creation.
Pattern Construction & Garment Manufacture – sewing, fitting and finishing techniques.
Surface Decoration – embellishment, texture and fabric manipulation.
Fashion History & Theory – style evolution, merchandising and trend awareness.
Fashion Retail & Sourcing – understanding materials, suppliers and production chains.

You’ll also have opportunities to attend industry talks and placement visits, giving you a real sense of how design translates into the modern workplace.

Entry requirements

✅ Three National 5 qualifications, preferably including Art, Fashion & Textiles or equivalent.

✅ Applicants with relevant Highers or work experience are also encouraged to apply.

✅ Entry by interview, where you’ll discuss your interest in fashion and may present a portfolio of sketches, garments or creative work.

ℹ️ Applicants must be 16 years or older at the start of the course.

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)

If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.