Alternative Routes
College
You could do a college course, which will teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need to work in the fashion industry. Relevant subjects include:
- Level 2 Award in Fashion - Sampling Fashion Techniques
- Level 2 Diploma in Skills for the Fashion Industries
- Level 3 Extended Diploma in Fashion Design and Production
Apprenticeship
You may be able to do an advanced apprenticeship in fashion and textiles and work as an assistant in a design studio. You could then develop your design skills on the job. You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Volunteering and experience
You’ll need to get as much work experience as you can, for example through an internship, as there’s strong competition for jobs in the fashion industry. It will help you get a better understanding of the role, and to meet people who may help you to find paid work later.
Other useful information
National Careers Service
British Fashion Council
Featured Maker
Phoebe Englishis an English fashion designer and head of her eponymous brand of women's wear and menswear,founded in 2011.
The brand is entirely made in England and pieces are created with close attention to detail and quality, rejecting mass made or ‘fast’ fashion. A bedrock sense of producer responsibility and sustainability underlies all decisions from design to business. All of the production is made in London, meaning the journey from sketch to garment is minimised to an approx. 10-15 mile radius and the entire business operates from one studio in South London.
Phoebe English trained at Central Saint Martins where she completed both a BA and MA in Fashion. On graduation, she was awarded the L’Oreal Professional Prize, Ungaro Bursary and Chloe Award. She has worked across a wide variety of disciplines and organisations and regularly guest lectures in leading Universities.
