Introduction to the Fashion Industry for 16 to 18 Year Olds Short Course
Course description
Through practical workshops, lectures, and seminars, you'll gain insight into the fashion industry, explore available career opportunities, and learn the steps needed to achieve your goals. You will be encouraged to visit retailers to undertake trend research and evaluate a range of brands and labels, and then develop a knowledge of the processes used in the development of a fashion range or brand. For on campus students these visits will take place during class. From understanding the fashion market and calendar of events, to how to work with working manufacturers and suppliers, this course helps you identify the possible careers available to you in the fashion business world.
This course is available online and on campus.
Who this course is for
- Students aged 16 to 18 with a passion for fashion, including beginners
- Students interested in a career in fashion
- This course includes a trip or visit off site
Key information
Topics covered
- History of the fashion business
- Structure and current environment / the Fashion calendar
- Styling and promotion and planning a range
- Fashion journalism and the Media and press
- Buying and merchandising and commercial requirements
- Understanding the process of manufacturing product & working with suppliers
- Marketing and PR - - How to target consumers
- Sales and distribution
- Sustainability & innovation
- Job roles in the fashion industry
Learning outcomes
- Have a clear understanding of job roles in the industry & potential career path
- Have an understanding of how a fashion brand will operate departmentally
- Skills to create a balanced collection with an awareness of price & margin
- Understand the importance of sourcing manufacturers & lead times
- An initial understanding of technically how to work with suppliers
- An awareness of sustainability in fashion
- Understanding marketing & PR campaigns & how to target specific audiences
For practical information about our kids and teens courses, take a look at our kids and teens information hub. This includes details of our policies on safeguarding, food allergies, learning requirements and online study.
Materials
On campus
- Notepad and pen
- Laptop / iPad / tablet
- 2-3 fashion magazine to cut up
- Any fabric swatches of interest
Online
- Laptop or PC
- Pad and pen
- Plain A4 paper
- Any type of coloured pens (5 colours needed)
Please see our Guide to taking online short courses.
Tutor
Sophie Murphy
Sophie Murphy is a graduate from the London College of Fashion with First Class Honours and has over 10 years industry experience working as a multi-product womenswear designer, with experience designing for retail, brands and suppliers. Alongside tutoring on short courses at the London College of Fashion, Sophie currently works as a freelance designer, specialising in working with start up brands and small businesses, but also working with suppliers for the high street. Carrying out trend research and analysis, developing product ranges, CAD's, sourcing fabrics and components, through to sampling, product development and production.Helen Joslin
Helen Joslin has over a decade of industry experience in buying and merchandising, working across the high street for large multi brand department stores. Specialising in menswear Helen has extensive experience buying and merchandising across multi-product categories for companies such as Arcadia and Debenhams. Outside of her buying career Helen is currently launching her own e-commerce website.
Jovanka Novkovic Davies
Jovanka Novkovic Davies has worked in the fashion industry for 25 years. She established her career in luxury retail buying working with British department stores, most notably Harrods where she worked with some of the world’s leading fashion designers and most prestigious fashion houses. Jovanka runs a product development company, specialising in fashion accessories and supplying British retailers. She also designs and produces a collection of luxury leather handbags.
James Venning
James Venning is the Fashion Retail Landscapes Unit Leader, and a lecturer on the B&M course. After leaving University with a 1st Class (Hons) degree James has spent almost 20 years in Buying across UK and International markets. He has bought and sourced most clothing categories but specialises in Menswear, Childrenswear and Global Sourcing visiting over 15 countries during his career. He’s worked with several of the UK’s leading retailers including Debenhams, River Island, Tesco and Marks & Spencer. He loves developing product from concept to customer and has also worked to create and deliver brand strategies for many concession brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour & Fred Perry. During his time as a Buying Lead and experienced Buying Manager became passionate about developing people and now relishes the opportunity to develop the next stars of the industry through you the students at UAL.
Stephanie Firth
With over 25 years in the fashion industry Stephanie has worked across Design, Buying, Product Development, Licensing and Sourcing. Working globally within brands and as a consultant & mentor to Start-Ups to help shape, give strategy, expand ranges and grow businesses. Brands include: Jigsaw, Burberry, Firetrap, Speedo, White Stuff, Elle, Ted Baker, Kurt Geiger, Kat Maconie, Away That Day swim. Specialising in Men's, Women's, multi product licensing Kids/Lingerie/Nightwear (kids and ladies)/Beauty/IndulgentBathing/Watches/Jewellery/Luggage/Cosmetics/Gifting/Stationery/ Fragrance/Candles & Diffusers/Bedding/Home.Lucy London
Lucy London (nee Clements) has over two decades of industry experience, covering high street brands from Gap, H&M, Topshop through to designer brands offering a boutique shopping experience, and department stores such as Selfridges. Visual Merchandising is her specialism, and she has worked in all areas of display, so her knowledge of the subject matter places her as a leading visual merchandiser lecturer. Lucy's career of visual static styling has also seen her styling the covers of London and US publications including TIME magazine. She specialises in lifestyle and fashion concept design and has had a freelance career combining VM, final styling and celebrity styling.
Visual merchandising, visual display and fashion business are areas that she still passionately works within. The educational arena is now Lucy's focus, training students and industry professionals in all areas of Visual Merchandising, Styling and fashion business. Her specialist subject areas teamed with her drive and enthusiasm, have given her direct lead in global events such as London fashion week, editorial covers and static styling.
Book a course
Loading