Course Overview
The Level 3 Extended Diploma Sustainable Fashion and Design is a full-time further education course delivered at Afan College and Newtown College as part of NPTC Group of Colleges. The course is designed for students who wish to develop creative, technical and conceptual skills in fashion, textiles and design, with sustainability embedded at the core of all learning and practice.
Students will explore how fabrics and designed products shape everyday life, from clothing to interiors, while developing an informed and responsible approach to design through the use of recycled materials, natural fabrics and environmentally conscious processes such as eco-dyeing.
Applicants are required to attend an interview prior to enrolment. Students should normally have two GCSEs at grade 2 (E) or above, or hold an appropriate Level 1 qualification.
This qualification supports progression to higher education and careers across a wide range of creative pathways. Potential career routes include fashion design, textile design, interior design, jewellery design, costume design, styling, pattern cutting, millinery, shoe design, fashion branding and marketing, arts management and art therapy.
The course supports creative thinking and experimentation, enabling students to develop contextual research and practical skills into original design concepts. Areas of study may include fashion, textiles, accessories, interiors, installation and surface pattern. Students will develop technical skills in fashion and textile design, with sustainability embedded throughout the course. Learning may include textile processes, fashion illustration, pattern cutting and draping, mood boards, traditional and digital drawing, fabric design, branding and social media marketing. In the second year of study, students will specialise within their chosen area.
Assessment is continuous throughout the academic year and is based on coursework and practical outcomes. Students will be assessed through a range of methods that reflect current industry practice.
Students may have the opportunity to purchase fabrics through the college. There may also be additional costs for educational visits and trips.
