Elevate your fashion career with this advanced dual qualification. Gain the technical and creative skills required to work as a senior fashion designer. The textiles, clothing, footwear and leather industry employs over 50,000 Australians and contributes almost $5.2 billion to the economy. There are a broad range of career opportunities within the industry including fashion design, dressmaking, and millinery as well as specialised technical jobs in textile production, testing, grading, and patternmaking.
You will gain specialist knowledge across the entire fashion design process, from design through to production and selling. You will also develop advanced skills in clothing and fashion accessories design, garment production, and marketing. Study tours to global fashion destinations including New York, London, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and New Delhi are offered as part of this course. In addition, in your final semester you will exhibit your fashion range to industry representatives and potential employers at our graduate fashion parades.
Successful completion of this course will give you the specialised knowledge and skills required to work as a senior fashion designer or commercial textile designer. Graduates will also finish their studies with a comprehensive portfolio of work.
Overseas study tours
You will have the opportunity to apply for overseas study tours in your final semester to global fashion destinations including New York, London, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, Shanghai or New Delhi. You will also have the opportunity to exhibit your work to industry representatives and potential employers via annual fashion showcase events.
TAFE Queensland's partnership with the University of Canberra means you will be credited for your time with us if you decide to upgrade your qualification. Successful completion of your dual qualification means you automatically qualify for a provisional place in the Bachelor of Applied Fashion with up to one year of credit.
The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all core and 35 elective units from the list below.
MSMENV272
Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices
Unit code: MSMENV272
MSMWHS200
Work safely
Unit code: MSMWHS200
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply workplace policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment for self and others. The unit of competency covers identifying work health and safety (WHS) hazards, assessing risk and following safety procedures in the workplace with minimal supervision.
Apply quality standards
Unit code: MSS402051
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply quality standards to work operations in an organisation. The unit is designed to complement competitive systems and practices units. This unit applies to an individual who is expected to take responsibility for the quality of their own work, and to take actions specified in the procedures and within the scope of their job and authority to ensure that quality standards are met.
MSTCL3001
Identify fabric performance and handling requirements
Unit code: MSTCL3001
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to identify fabric performance and handling requirements. The unit of competency applies to fabrics used to produce garments and accessories and includes sourcing information from reference material and industry specialists, as well as conducting simple tests to identify fabric types and properties. Identification methods and tests covered by this unit are those where the procedure has already been determined and the range of outcomes established.
MSTFD4004
Calculate cost estimates for fashion products
Unit code: MSTFD4004
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to calculate cost estimates for fashion products.
Interact and network with fashion industry participants
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to interact and network with fashion industry participants. This unit of competency applies to communication and networking with people who work along the fashion industry supply chain. The unit of competency applies to industry appropriate communication and relationship building techniques to maintain effective industry networks, and to ensure design and production processes meet requirements.
Develop and present design concepts within specific guidelines
Unit description: The unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop and present fashion design concepts to the client, in response to a brief. It applies to a garment or small range for adult or children’s market which includes some distinctive style and features. Work is conducted according to workplace practices and procedures as a member of a team or under supervision.
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to use computing technology in a textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) workplace. The unit of competency applies to identifying the types and sources of information required, and using computing technology to access, enter, manipulate and store information. The equipment may include computers and other equipment based on computing technology. Impact of technology use must be related to work role.
Identify fibres, fabrics and textiles used in the TCF industry
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to identify fibres, yarns, fabrics and textile materials and how they are used in the construction of garments and accessories and in textile production processes. The unit of competency applies to a range of natural and synthetic materials which may be used for knitted, woven, spun, tufted or non-woven products. While the unit relates to a comprehensive coverage of textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) materials, evidence may be contextualised to a sector or workplace.
Develop and implement a sales or marketing strategy for fashion or textile items
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement a sales and marketing strategy for a textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) product or process. The unit of competency applies to the development and implementation of a sales and marketing strategy for a design, product or range, or the design of a manufacturing process for TCF products, in a domestic or international market.
Analyse individual fit and make pattern alterations
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to analyse the fit of a garment or toile on the individual body, make necessary adjustments and alter the pattern. The unit of competency applies to fitting a garment or toile, making size and fit alterations on the garment or toile, then transferring these alterations to the pattern.
MSTTD5007
Develop textile designs using computer-based design programs
Unit code: MSTTD5007
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to use a range of computer-based design programs, equipment and computing technology to generate, produce and manufacture designs for textile products. The unit of competency applies to the creation of designs and production specifications for woven, knitted or printed textiles, tapestries and experimental textile products using computer-based design programs and equipment.
Manage fashion design process
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop fashion design briefs and manage the development of design concepts for commercial production.
Cut fabrics for prototype designs
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to lay up, make marker and cut work for sample designs where only a couple of garments would be cut out at a time, as required by the designer to test design or pattern.
Design bras and swimwear
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to design structured bras and swimwear for production. The unit of competency applies to designs which include structured foundations. Bras and swimwear that do not include these components are covered in other fashion design units.
Develop patterns from a block using basic patternmaking principles
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop patterns from a block using basic patternmaking principles. The unit of competency applies to the development of a variety of pattern styles utilising the basic principles of patternmaking, including dart manipulation and square blocking.
Identify design process for fashion designs
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to identify design process for fashion designs. The unit of competency applies to identifying the criteria for a fashion design brief, and how they impact on the process of producing fashion items. It includes the impact of colour on the design process in a production environment.
Use a sewing machine for fashion design
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to use a sewing machine to align and sew pattern pieces and sew components. The unit of competency applies to aligning and sewing straight seams, joining flat pieces of stable fabric together, sewing components and stitching hems, using basic stitching.
Draw a trade drawing for fashion design
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to draw an accurate trade or technical drawing based on specifications and a design. The unit of competency applies to the patternmaking or design room, where accurate trade or technical drawings are required to interpret and clarify a garment design.
Assist in preparation of preliminary design concepts
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to assist in the preparation of preliminary design concepts. The unit of competency applies to preparing preliminary design concepts for garments, for self or others, using generally basic stable fabrics. It applies to original creation or adaptation of designs or interpretation of sketches for single or multiple production styles and ranges, made-to-measure and theatre costuming.
Create pattern to meet design specifications applying advanced patternmaking principles
Unit description: The unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to create a pattern from an existing block, using advanced patternmaking principles, including contouring, square blocking and pivoting.
Grade 2-D patterns
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to grade flat or 2-D patterns used for garment production. The unit of competency applies to production of a basic style garment where discretion and judgement may be required in planning and selecting processes, procedures or outcomes.
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to identify influences of the 20th Century on fashion design and construction techniques. The unit of competency applies to the analysis of the most important economic, social, political and technological factors in the 20th Century that have had an impact on fashion development and demand.
Create pattern from block to meet customer specifications
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to create a pattern from an existing block for an individual size, and to meet the styling requirements of the customer.
Sew design prototypes
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to assemble a prototype garment using commercial machines. The unit of competency applies to producing a garment that is not designed to be worn but will be used for the purposes of confirming elements of design and production requirements.
Use electronic fashion design tools
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to use a range of electronic design programs and equipment, such as software programs and computing technology. The unit of competency applies to the creation of designs, patterns or production specifications using electronic programs and equipment, such as graphic and design software, computers and peripherals, and specialised equipment.
Drape fabrics to make patterns
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge to drape fabrics to make patterns. This unit of competency applies to using draping techniques to create a basic fitted foundation. This applies to the creation of fitted blocks, such as a bodice and a skirt and does not include draping of set-in sleeves.
Develop marketing plans for fashion products
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to plan marketing and promotional activities to support the sales of fashion products. The unit of competency applies to local or international marketing activities typical to the promotion and sale of fashion products. Development of marketing plans may be central to the work role or completed as part of the overall sale of design concepts to clients. All proposed marketing activities must be appropriate to the price point of the fashion design and the overall objectives of the client.
Manipulate fabrics to create new finishes
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to use manipulation techniques to create decoration for fabric design effects. The unit of competency applies to manipulating a range of textiles that are used in the production of garments and accessories.
Analyse influences on contemporary fashion designs
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to research and analyse significant influences that determine current individual preferences and future fashion trends. The unit of competency applies to the analysis of the fashion theories on adoption and dissemination of new trends, as well as investigating fashion cycles. The skills covered in this unit will be applied in the development of designs to meet specific design briefs and current market demands.
Cost production of fashion or textile designs
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to analyse and calculate production costs of fashion or textile designs to determine the most cost-effective production mechanism. The unit of competency applies to costing domestic and offshore production options. The unit applies to workplace practices and procedures applying at the point of production.
Produce fashion illustrations to assist product visualisation
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to produce fashion illustrations that will visually communicate the fashion figure in a variety of poses and silhouettes.
Perform contour draping
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to perform contour draping for styled garments that are worn against the body. The unit of competency applies to draping fabric to the contours of the figure incorporating working design drawings. Draping may be for a one-off garment that goes from drape to garment or a prototype that goes from drape to flat pattern for small volume production. Draping is performed on a body form, such as a mannequin or model.
Develop patterns for complex fashion garments
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop patterns for the production of complex fashion garments with advanced styling requirements. The unit of competency applies to the development of patterns using an existing block and applying advanced patternmaking principles.
Determine and specify advanced construction processes
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to determine and specify advanced construction processes to achieve desired design details. The unit of competency applies to design details which achieve specific effects in the production of garments to give a garment a more unique, individual appearance. It also applies to producing samples and developing construction specifications and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide the production of garments which incorporate design detail.
Assess impact of current fashion industry innovations and practices
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to conduct research to determine current industry practices and assess the impact of these on own practice.
Conduct digital patternmaking and grading
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to use digital technologies to produce patterns and conduct grading for fashion designs. The unit of competency applies to the use of specialised electronic programs and computing equipment to digitise patterns and access existing pattern block libraries to create and grade pattern styles for a set size range.
Evaluate commercial viability of designs
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to evaluate the commercial viability of the mass production and sale of fashion designs. The unit of competency applies to evaluating the ability of fashion design concepts and proposals to assist in achieving business goals and financial targets. Skills covered by this unit are used to assist in making decisions about which fashion designs to select for commercial production and sale.
Manage product development of fashion designs
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to manage the development and production processes for fashion designs. The unit of competency applies to management of the development of fashion designs to production and completion of final product.
Drape structured over-garments
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to perform structured draping for tailored over-garments, such as jackets and overcoats. The unit of competency applies to work which requires special considerations to fit balance and inter-construction requirements of the jacket as an over-garment. Work includes partial flat pattern construction or blocks to complement the drape, such as with the development of sleeves and collars.
Develop a fashion range
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop and present a fashion range of at least ten items to the client. This unit of competency applies to design development and presentation of a fashion range based on an occasion, theme or storyline. Design concept development processes will be conducted according to workplace practices and procedures.
Apply studio processes to create and produce designs for commercial production
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply studio processes to identify and explore commercial opportunities for the design and development of fashion designs. The unit of competency applies to integrating skills across the design and production process, and focuses on the development and production of a fashion design to achieve commercial and design objectives.
Design and produce experimental textiles
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply experimental processes to design and produce original textiles in response to a design brief. The unit of competency applies to developing creative and original design concepts using manipulation techniques to create different effects on fibres, fabrics and other materials.
Research commercial development of textiles
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to research and evaluate textiles for fashion, furnishings, accessories and exhibition, and make recommendations to guide the commercial development of textile products. The unit of competency applies to activities associated with researching and evaluating quality, processing, finish, use, properties and performance of materials, partially finished and finished textile products. Findings should be used to make recommendations to guide commercial development of materials and products.
Develop a textile product range
Unit description: This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to develop a textile product range and present the range to the client. This unit of competency applies to the development of a textile product range based on a client brief, and presentation of the designed range to the client for acceptance.