FA4015 - Fashion Practice

What will I learn on this module?

Fashion Practice introduces you to the professional standards of contemporary fashion design. Technical pattern cutting and sewing inductions, including sample and garment construction, are creatively recorded in a process journal. Practical design research workshops and activities will contextualise the development of technical skills.

Our team of technical specialists will conduct workshops to help you acquire the necessary practical skills for adhering to health and safety regulations and procedures. You will learn the fundamental methodologies and processes of pattern cutting and garment construction. You will learn sewing techniques to create a garment and sampling. Through demonstrations you will receive guidance on handling and preparing different types of fabric, laying out patterns and the basics of moulage. Studio activities will complement the development of your technical skills, for example, analysing and drawing garments, peer reviews of student work across various levels, and presentations to inspire and contextualise the practical skills you will learn.

You will creatively record all skills development in a process journal. This journal will serve as a sketchbook where you will record your progress by including observational drawings, technical worksheets, photographs, annotations, and small samples. You can refer to this journal and add to it at any point during your academic journey as you improve your pattern-cutting and construction skills. This module is a foundation that will prepare you for a creative make project later in the academic year and beyond.

How will I learn on this module?

This module introduces you to key professional skills and techniques for the fashion industry and builds intellectual and practical competencies in preparation for Industrial Placement, Study Abroad or Creative Studio options at Level 5. You will learn through practical workshops and demonstrations alongside guided independent learning.



You will be required to complete health and safety inductions in the relevant specialist workshops to progress in this module successfully. You will learn in practical studio environments and specialist industry-standard workshops. This practice-based module requires engaging in technical skills development and creative project work.



Small group and individual tutorials will encourage active participation and dialogue around your work and provide an opportunity to discuss and clarify learning and assessment.



You will use your process journal to record and demonstrate your practical and creative skills and as a vehicle to build and reflect on your personal and educational development. You will self-assess your work through reflective annotation to acknowledge current learning and identify achievements and opportunities for future development.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Your module tutors will be your main source of support for your academic development. Through a mix of lectures, seminar discussions, practical workshops, and tutorials, they will provide you with the support you need to pass and succeed in each module.



At the outset of your module, you will receive a module briefing that will explain all learning outcomes and requirements. Crucially, it will also include a detailed timetable explaining the planned delivery of the module, workshops, and opportunities for support, including tutorials. You will meet your module tutors on a weekly basis.



During your modules, you will be expected to present work for feedback through group discussion with your peers, tutors, external collaborators, or stakeholders. You will also receive more individualised tutorial feedback prior to your submission to help improve your work.

In addition to your module tutors, you will be supported by various others and university services:



The Faculty provides a wide range of technical expertise to support your study. Technicians aligned with your modules will be able to provide technical instruction and demonstration of equipment and software required to complete your project work.

Library staff will provide induction sessions to introduce you to essential study skills, IT skills and information retrieval skills.

On live projects with external collaborators (or stakeholders), you may receive specific project feedback and professional career advice.

Visiting lecturers and professionals will give you greater contextual awareness and inspire you.

Academic Language Skills modules are available to help students at the Northumbria Campuses whose first language is not English or who have no experience studying in English in the UK.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Demonstrate knowledge through the safe operation of machinery, hand tools, production processes or software applications.



2. Evidence elementary knowledge of materials, processes, and standards through demonstrating pattern cutting and construction skills in the realisation of 3D samples/toiles.



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:



3. Record and annotate design research and development through sketchbooks or other prescribed documentation formats.



Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):



4. Actively engage in technical inductions, practical workshops, tutorials, and self-directed study.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment

You will have the opportunity of continuous formative assessment through verbal feedback in studio sessions, self-assessment, and peer reviews.

Formative assessment will indicate the level at which you are currently achieving the relevant MLOs and offer an opportunity to discuss progress and ensure the right support is in place to achieve your goals. Formative assessment allows you to apply the feedback to your existing work and improve your competencies before your final summative assessment.

Summative Assessment

During the assessment period in weeks 9 and 10 of this module, you will present and submit work for summative assessment. This module has two components.?



Component 1: 50% Pass/Fail

Technical Inductions

MLOs 1,2,4

Assessment of this component will be evidenced by active engagement and completion of induction activities and practical outputs.



Component 2: 50% Pass/Fail

Process Journal

MLOs 3, 4

Assessment of this component will be evidenced by a creative process journal recording all research and skills development. This journal should include reflective annotation and self-assessment.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Fashion Practice introduces you to the professional standards of contemporary fashion design and making. It is the start of your practical skills journey. Creative design research workshops and activities will contextualise the development of your technical skills. Our technical specialists will guide you through pattern cutting and sewing inductions and the fundamental methodologies and processes of pattern cutting and garment construction. You will be inducted onto all the machinery, learning sewing techniques to create a basic garment and sampling. Creative studio workshops will complement the development of your technical making skills, observational drawing skills, and confidence through peer reviews and presentations to inspire and contextualise your learning. You will creatively record all skills development in a process journal. This module is a foundation that will prepare you for a creative make project later in the academic year and beyond.

Course info

UCAS Code W232

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries, Northumbria School of Design

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints