Master of Design Fashion and Textiles

The Glasgow School of Art

Programme Overview

The Master of Design in Fashion and Textiles at The Glasgow School of Art is an advanced skills postgraduate programme designed to meet the ambitions of motivated fashion and/or textile graduates who wish to extend, develop and refine their design practice.

The programme welcomes two broad types of fashion design student, each of which has a characteristically different approach:

One can broadly be described as ‘Textile, or surface, led’ with a design approach considered to be from the ‘Textile-outwards’. The other can broadly be described as ‘Silhouette, or shape, led’ with a design approach considered to be from the ‘Silhouette-inwards’.

Textile-led fashion designers are more concerned with the surface (print, embroidery, decoration) or structure (weave) of the fabric in a garment and tend to think more in two dimensions when designing. Silhouette led designers are more concerned with the shape, cut, outline and construction of a garment and tend to think more in three dimensions when designing.

Knitwear is considered a hybrid activity as the structure of the knitted cloth and the shape of the knitted garment are considered simultaneously. The emphasis might be on knitted structures or fully fashioning.

Students on the programme are required to specialise in a surface or silhouette approach in order to give focus to and strengthen their individual area of expertise.

Career Destinations

Graduates of the programme set up their own label (e.g. Tommy Zhong, Juliette Botterill Millinery) or can be found at Luxury Fashion and Accessory labels such as Ralph Lauren, Celine, Roksanda and LOEWE. Others work for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Urban Outfitters or in fashion graphics, PR, marketing, brand development and consultancy or as costume designers, colourists and stylists. Many go on to teach in higher education institutions across the world. Students will also achieve PgCert and PgDip exit awards during this course.