How To Start Your Own Fashion Business Short Course
Course description
Course overview
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.
This course is available both on campus or online.
Who this course is for
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.
Key information
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 and PR (Cost Effective ""Budget' Marketing vs Lavish Marketing Budgets)
- Week 6: Sourcing Fabric (Ethically and Sustainably produced fabrics)
- Week 7: Sourcing Manufacturing (Production Models, Ethical and 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) and Research Techniques for Entrepreneurs (Primary, Secondary, Auto-Ethnographic)
- Day 2: Field Trip: Gathering of Market Research Data (Market Levels, Benchmarking, Competitors) and Market Research Data Analysis (Synthesis of gathered data)
- Day 3: Comms: Marketing and PR (Cost Effective ""Budget' Marketing vs Lavish Marketing Budgets) and Sourcing Fabric (Ethically and Sustainably produced fabrics) and Sourcing Manufacturing (Production Models, Ethical and Sustainable Factories)
- Day 4: Financial Forecasting (Understanding Finance in Business)
- Day 5: Presentation Preparations and Presentations (Business Ideas or improvements to existing fashion brands, via presentation of well-researched case study)
Learning outcomes
- 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
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
On campus or Online:
- A4 file
- Notebook and pen
- Laptop or tablet
If you are taking this course online, please see our Guide to taking online short courses
Pre-Task Activities:
- Reading the article: The State of Fashion 2025: Challenges at every turn
- 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.
Tutor
Romero Bryan
Romero Bryan (MA, PG Cert, AFHEA) boasts over 25 years of extensive experience in the fashion industry, having distinguished himself as a Fashion Designer with the presentation of luxurious collections at prominent international events, including Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. In addition to his design work, he has acted as a Freelance Public Relations Consultant with a focus on Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle, and has also accumulated experience in Corporate Public Relations.
Currently, Romero serves as a lecturer in the MA Design Management program at the London College of Communications. He integrates principles of Design Management into the curriculum of all his UAL Short Courses, thereby encouraging students to engage critically with broader interconnected issues that extend beyond the immediate concerns of the fashion industry.
In his educational practice, Romero equips students with essential tools for success in the fashion sector, leveraging his professional experiences and incorporating real-world case studies from established creative practitioners and enterprises. His pedagogical approach is thus deeply rooted in practical insights and the dynamics of the industry.
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