A fashion designer is a professional who creates clothing,

accessories, and other fashion items. They use their creativity, knowledge of trends, and understanding of the human body to design clothing that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Fashion designers often work for design houses or fashion brands, or they may run their own fashion labels.

The role of a fashion designer involves conceptualizing and sketching designs, selecting fabrics and materials, creating prototypes, and overseeing the production process. They must also stay up-to-date with current trends and market demands, and they may work closely with other professionals in the fashion industry, such as buyers, merchandisers, and pattern makers.

Kenya is a country full of diversity and talent. The creative industry has been one of the most undervalued industries in the past. For many years, fashion design was viewed as tailoring, a course pursued informally and formally as a last resort when a student did not meet the requirements for a higher education. Due to the recent rise in social media usage, the Kenyan fashion industry has been growing rapidly to catch up with the global market. The Kenyan community has been exposed to the booming fashion trends all over the world. This has created value and demand, which has changed the mindset of fashion designers, previously referred to as “fundis”.

Fashion and design management level 6 prepares students for the global fashion market. The course equips the student to design clothes and create visual aids using software like Computer Aided Design. The programme focuses on readying the students for the next generation of fashion business owners. The students are prepared to make all apparel, as well as interior décor. The course also covers textile merchandising, which aims at equipping the students with business skills to enable them to monetize their fashion products.

What to expect

• • • • Professional skills: You will cover a range of units that will equip you with professional design and construction, communication and business skills.
      • Fashion design and apparel construction skills: You will focus on understanding the design and development process from research, initial design ideas, fashion illustration, pattern drafting and grading, garment cutting, apparel assembling, garment finishing, garment display and portfolio development.
      • Textile merchandising skills: You will be trained to market your products and monetize your projects. You will be allowed to make garments for clients as part of your coursework. At the end of every semester, you will organize a fashion show where you will exhibit your products to the institution management, staff, students, potential clients, partners and potential employers.
      • Industrial linkage: You will have an opportunity to work in a fashion house or a textile company of your choosing for three months. This will enhance your employability by offering work experience and contacts within the industry. You might also get a chance to be absorbed in the company after the three months, based on your work performance.

Units to be covered

Basic Units

• • • • Communication skills
      • Digital Literacy
      • Work ethics and practices
      • Entrepreneurship skills

Common units

• • • • Textile science
      • Fashion design and sketching
      • Pattern construction and grading
      • Garment cutting and construction
      • Quality control
      • Computer aided design
      • Research methods
      • Industrial organization management
      • Textile merchandizing

Core units

• • • • Fabric decoration
      • Apparel construction machines
      • Ladies wear
      • Gents wear
      • Fashion crafts
      • Lingerie wear
      • Children’s apparel
      • Sports wear
      • Uniform wear
      • Occasion wear
      • Costume design
      • Interior decor

Check out 2023 intake students Fashion and design Show.