Program Overview

Fashion Manufacturing MA

Overview

The Fashion Manufacturing MA addresses current industry challenges and skills shortages by focusing on apparel production, systems, sourcing, and manufacturing processes. This research-driven, industry-informed course is designed to meet the evolving needs of fashion manufacturing, from design and product development to innovative production techniques.

Course Structure

This course is part of a suite of MA Fashion courses which include Fashion Business Management MA, Fashion Sustainability MA, Fashion Accessories Design MA, and Menswear MA (with Professional Experience MFA). You’ll shape your learning through a set of shared optional modules that address contemporary challenges, advanced digital approaches, and specialised professional contexts while facilitating collaborative and cross-disciplinary learning opportunities.

Core Modules

• Sustainable Supply Chain Management: This module aims for you to gain a deep understanding of sustainable supply chains, key stakeholders, and the issues affecting the fashion industry through rigorous and systematic research.
• Costing for Global Fashion: This module investigates global production, sourcing and costings for the fashion industry.
• Garment Technology and Testing: This module prepares you to evaluate a full range of complex garment and textile technology processes in the global fashion industry.
• Fashion Risk Management: This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the processes and tools fashion businesses use to assess and manage various types of risk in fashion manufacturing and product development.
• Final Research Project: In this year-long module, you’ll be encouraged to select topics of professional interest and independently direct your own research.

Optional Modules

• Fashion Entrepreneurship: This module aims to engage you in the realities of fashion entrepreneurship.
• Fashion Consumer Behaviour and Trends: This module has been designed to give you a critical understanding of the theories of consumer behaviour, innovation and trend management within fashion and broader business contexts.
• Planning and Trading for Retailing: This module will provide you with an insider view of the key roles of a Fashion Buyer and Fashion Merchandiser operating in a complex, global retail environment.
• Fashion Activism and Social Justice: The aim of this module is to introduce you to a broad range of activism and social justice practices and allow you to understand how social, political, and philosophical values contribute to current issues in the fashion industry.
• Industry Practice: This module encourages and enhances employability skills with industry experience.

Professional Accreditation

This course has been developed with our industry partner the UK Fashion and Textile Organisation Association (UKFT), the largest network for fashion and textile companies in the UK. Students will benefit from guest speakers and networking opportunities.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) or a lower second class honours degree (2:2) and more than 2 years experience compulsory.
• In addition to the academic requirements, applicants will be expected to include a CV with their application.
• If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing and no element below 5.5.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £1,325 (Price per 20-credit module)
• International tuition fee: £1,785 (Price per 20-credit module)
• Alumni discount available.
• Funding options available, including Student Finance England (SFE) for UK students and various funding schemes for international students.

Facilities

• State-of-the-art industry machinery
• Specialist software
• Expert teaching staff
• Dynamic learning environment

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Assessments include written exams, practical, and coursework.

Supporting You

• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Course Location

Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.

Related Courses

• Fashion Business Management MA
• Menswear MA

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

Westminster Menswear Archive

The Westminster Menswear Archive has examples of some of the most important and exciting menswear garments covering the last 100 years. The archive includes garments from Alexander McQueen, Craig Green, Stone Island, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Nutter, Liam Hodges, Carol Christian Poell, C.P. Company, Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein, Meadham Kirchhoff, Kim Jones, Aitor Throup, Vivienne Westwood, Mr Fish, Irvine Sellars, Umbro, MA.Strum, adidas, Nanamica, Belstaff, Barbour, Burberry, Maison Margiela, Jeremy Scott, Vexed Generation, Aquascutum, Levis, Jeremy Scott, Berghaus, Penfield, Griffin, and Comme Des Garcons.