Design Degrees Online

The Apparel Design and Retail Merchandising BA (Hons) is closely linked to the BA (Hons) Fashion Product Management – both share common first two semesters which focuses on the pre-production areas of design and technology. If your aim is to develop a career in the buying department as a design merchandiser or working as a retail merchandiser with a fashion house that imports fashion, it is essential that you fully understand apparel as a product from both the manufacturing and post-production area of buying and merchandising. Offered in an accelerated two year programme, this programme is a combination and blend of both skills and will enable you to operate within the technical areas of the fashion industry or work with a designer as a merchandiser to provide a commercial focus to their ranges.

In semesters 3 and 4, a greater emphasis is placed on market research and on the study of how ranges are merchandised and directed towards specific market segments. So as your product knowledge increases, you are able to incorporate a greater commercial sense to your design ranges. A key element of the programme is to develop awareness of the fashion environment in the UK and its relationship with the global fashion market. As the competition for world markets increase, retail pricing of garments becomes more significant to the success of a fashion business. This programme will ensure you understand the rationale, methods and implications of the supply chain that affect both the consumer and producer.

Through theoretical and practical study of fashion design, students in this major will learn how to become successful fashion designers, fashion merchandisers and professionals in the clothing industry. This major develops professionals who have extensive knowledge of the global fashion business world, and who are ready to use the knowledge into a competitive edge in the industry.

Research Areas
Fashion design, fashion merchandising, traditional Korean costume.

Careers
Fashion designer, fashion merchandiser, coordinator, Korean costume designer, traditional Korean costume specialist, stage costume specialist, pattern maker, displayer, fashion business manager, fashion journalist, and fashion promotion specialist.

Fashion and Textiles at RMIT

Worldwide the Fashion and Textile industry employs tens of millions of people. They are employed in every aspect of the supply chain from raw material production to high end fashion design to management of multi national corporations. Two significant trends are emerging in the industry, one is increasing globalisation and the other is the need of developing countries to move beyond the first stages of fibre, yarn and fabric production to more labour and cost intensive aspects such as design, brand management, quality control and distribution to be able to compete in global markets. It is an industry of complex supply chains and rapid technology change that requires experienced and knowledgeable professionals who understand how to pull together their organisations needs efficiently and effectively.

RMIT’s Master of Technology (Fashion and Textiles) focuses on the international fashion and textile industry and is aimed at people wanting a successful career in this industry. It is for people who want a postgraduate qualification that builds and adds expertise and knowledge in the areas of design, technology and supply chain management to their existing Textile, Merchandising and Fashion skill base. The degree is relevant to fashion designers, fashion technologists, textile designers, textile technologists, industry managers and those with a fashion and textiles merchandising and marketing background. This postgraduate degree also offers an entry point to people wanting to start a career in the fashion and textile industry.

This program addresses not only Textile and Fashion industry issues, but includes the broad scope of business operations, such as marketing and distribution, product development, leadership and management, industry economics and the global issues in current business environments.

Graduates program will be skilled and knowledgeable in the areas of: Global Fashion and Textile Markets, Supply Chain Structures, Business Management Issues and understand the implications of Technology which are all contextualised within the Fashion and Textiles Industry.

General information is available at Postgraduate Study at RMIT

Duration

All students enrol in the Master program and can choose to exit at the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma exit points.

Master: one and a half years full-time or three years part-time.
Graduate Diploma: one year full-time or two years part-time.
Graduate Certificate: six months full-time or one year part-time.
Pathways

Gaining credit for previous study or experience
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit transfer are ways that RMIT recognises applicants’ skills and knowledge gained through formal and informal education and training, work experience, and/or life experience (including volunteer work; committee responsibilities; family duties, hobbies).

Further information about gaining credit for previous study or experience

Further information about pathways