How To Start Your Own Fashion Business Short Course
Course description
The How To Start Your Own Fashion Business Short Course is designed to offer an overview of the intricacies of establishing a fashion enterprise through a combination of lectures, workshops and projects.
Adopting an emancipatory approach, each session prioritises critical dialogue as a means of fostering a collective comprehension of the fashion industry. This approach acknowledges that all students have relevant experiences related to fashion.
The course encompasses both creative and business dimensions, with a particular focus on fashion design. Students receive guidance and advice through a project customised to their specific needs. Comprehensive lecture notes will be provided, and constructive feedback will be integrated into the course framework.
During the course, students examine and discuss contemporary case studies from various fashion brands and have the opportunity to complete optional homework assignments to maximise the learning experience. Weekly themes will be structured around UAL's Principles for Climate, Racial, and Social Justice, providing a framework for discussion and inquiry.
The course aims to help students develop the confidence needed to identify and pursue the next steps in their professional journeys. Students also gain an understanding of the data required to develop a business plan aimed at securing financial opportunities.
Course outcomes
By the end of the course students should have:
- An understanding of the intricacies of establishing a fashion enterprise
- Expanded their knowledge of the fashion industry
- Developed an individual project and received constructive feedback on their work
- An understanding of the data required to develop a comprehensive business plan with the aim of securing financial opportunities
- The confidence to identify and pursue the next steps in their professional journeys
Who should attend this course?
This inspiring short course is suitable for all levels of experience and is designed to cater to a diverse audience. It would be an excellent fit for those with an interest in fashion as consumers of the global fashion industry, as well as current or former business owners.
Previous students have utilised their coursework to launch new fashion brands, while others have developed case studies on specific brands to enhance their employability within those companies. Additionally, many students have leveraged the portfolio created during the course to apply for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate programs.
Level: all levels welcome.
Please note: students will need to bring a laptop or tablet to each session.
Clear, easy to understand lessons:
- Our tutors will explain things in easy to understand, accessible English. If they need to use any special terminology they will make sure they explain what they mean
- New methods will be shown to students through live demonstrations, in a way thats crystal clear and easy to understand
All our on campus courses include:
- Study at Central Saint Martins, Granary Square a world-famous art and design college
- Networking opportunities and the chance to share ideas with students from across the globe
- Access to the technology and materials relevant to your discipline
- The chance to ask questions to your tutor in real time
- Feedback and critique on your assignments
- The opportunity to experience the many sights of London on your down time
All our online short courses include:
- Live and interactive online lessons with classmates from around the world
- The same course content and learning outcomes as our face to face courses
- Lesson recordings, for review, so you never have to miss a class
- Access to the virtual learning environment with course content
- Forums for support
- 2 weeks online access to the recordings of the live classroom sessions
- The opportunity to ask questions to your tutor in real time
A certificate of completion and a digital badge:
- You've put the work in so we want to make sure you have something to show for it!
- As long as you attend a minimum of 80% of your classes, we will provide you with a certificate of attendance
- We always recommend you attend all of the classes so that you get the most out of the experience!
- Certificates and digital badges are great to compliment your CV
Available dates
Details
Topics covered:
10-week evening course:
- Week 1: Overview of Fashion Industry (Global Value, PESTLE, Macro / Meso / Micro Levels Theory)
- Week 2: Research Techniques for Entrepreneurs (Primary, Secondary, Auto-Ethnographic)
- Week 3: Field Trip: Gathering of Market Research Data (Market Levels, Benchmarking, Competitors)
- Week 4: Market Research Data Analysis (Synthesis of gathered data)
- Week 5: Comms: Marketing & PR (Cost Effective "Budget' Marketing vs Lavish Marketing Budgets)
- Week 6: Sourcing Fabric (Ethically & Sustainably produced fabrics)
- Week 7: Sourcing Manufacturing (Production Models, Ethical & Sustainable Factories)
- Week 8: Financial Forecasting (Understanding Finance in Business)
- Week 9: Financial Forecasting (Understanding Finance in Business)
- Week 10: Presentations (Business Ideas or improvements to existing fashion brands, via presentation of well-researched case study)
1 week (5 days) course:
- Day 1: Overview of Fashion Industry (Global Value, PESTLE, Macro / Meso / Micro Levels Theory) & Research Techniques for Entrepreneurs (Primary, Secondary, Auto-Ethnographic)
- Day 2: Field Trip: Gathering of Market Research Data (Market Levels, Benchmarking, Competitors) & Market Research Data Analysis (Synthesis of gathered data)
- Day 3: Comms: Marketing & PR (Cost Effective "Budget' Marketing vs Lavish Marketing Budgets) & Sourcing Fabric (Ethically & Sustainably produced fabrics) & Sourcing Manufacturing (Production Models, Ethical & Sustainable Factories)
- Day 4: Financial Forecasting (Understanding Finance in Business)
- Day 5: Presentation Preparations & Presentations (Business Ideas or improvements to existing fashion brands, via presentation of well-researched case study)
Materials
On campus materials
Please bring with you to the first session:
- A4 file
- Notebook and pen
- Laptop or tablet
Online materials
To take part in the online sessions you will need:
- An up-to-date web browser (we recommend Chrome)
- Microphone and headphones (a headset with a microphone function is recommended. The built-in microphone in your device would also be fine)
- Webcam
- Strong Internet connection - we recommend a minimum of 2 Mbps download, and 1 Mbps upload, faster if possible. You can test your network speed here - https://www.speedtest.net
- A4 file
- Notebook and pen
- Laptop or tablet
Pre-Task Activities:
- Reading the article: "The State of Fashion 2025: Challenges at every turn": https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/state-of-fashion#/ or via https://soundcloud.com/mckinsey/listen-to-the-800835614
- For individuals seeking to engage in a more rigorous examination of the topic, we encourage you to consider reviewing a comprehensive advanced analysis of the same report, as presented by the Business of Fashion. You may access this detailed exploration through the following link: https://www.businessoffashion.com/reports/news-analysis/the-state-of-fashion-2025-bof-mckinsey-report/?utm_source=newsletter_dailydigest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily_Digest_111124&utm_content=intr
Meet the Tutor
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