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Fashion Design & Garment Technology

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Kickstart your career in fashion design or garment technology with a specialist diploma at the Fashion Retail Academy.

Our fashion design and garment technology diplomas prepare you for an exciting career at the forefront of the fashion industry. On these courses, you'll learn skills ranging from pattern cutting and sewing techniques to technical drawings and trend forecasting. Whilst studying at the FRA, you’ll also have masterclasses, workshops and industry engagement with some of our 250+ brand partners built into your course.

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These diploma courses are some of the fastest routes into the fashion industry. We work in collaboration with our brand partners to deliver unparalleled industry enrichment, ranging from masterclasses to mentoring to careers fairs, so you'll have the opportunity to build industry contacts and develop the skills and knowledge that fashion brands are really looking for.

What's the difference between fashion design and garment technology?

A fashion designer creates ideas for clothing that a brand can sell, and are involved in every stage of the process, from concept to final product. In this creative role, designers make fashion illustrations and patterns to bring a brief to life. A garment technologist takes the fashion designer's ideas and works on the fit, fabric and quality standards to match the brand's vision and budget. They then create the tech packs for each garment to send to the factory so that it can be put into production. These roles work very closely together and are integral to a fashion brand's success.

What will I learn on a fashion design or garment technology course at the FRA?

All of our courses are designed to equip you with the latest skills and knowledge. Our Level 3 Fashion Design course will teach you practical and technical skills in sewing, garment design and construction. On Level 4 Garment Technology, you'll learn about fit requirements, fabrics and fibres, and construction techniques, as well as understand quality assurance and fashion production methods.

What kind of career could a fashion design or garment technology course at the FRA lead to?

For Fashion Design graduates, you could:

  • Study a diploma in Garment Technology or a degree in Fashion Design
  • Start an apprenticeship in a fashion studio 
  • Become a junior assistant in a design, sample or production department

Find out more about working in fashion design here.

For Garment Technology graduates you could become a:

  • Fabric technologist
  • Assistant garment technologist
  • Technical assistant

Find out more about careers in garment technology here.

Want to know more?

Download our 2025-26 course guide

Download Course Guide

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