Fashion Design
You’ll develop the cultural awareness and critical thinking skills you need to analyze and produce a broad range of discourse in a full spectrum of careers — and to make a difference in whatever you do.
- 2 Years / Onsite
- Intakes: Jan, Apr, Jun, Oct
Overview
Fashion Design at Auckland Royal Academy develops the creative vision, technical skills, and industry understanding required to produce compelling fashion work across garment design, textile innovation, and fashion communication. The programme explores fashion history, cultural theory, sustainable design, garment construction, textile science, and collection development, preparing graduates for careers in design, production, retail, and the growing sustainable fashion sector.
Studio-based learning is at the core of the programme, with students developing seasonal collections, responding to industry briefs, and exhibiting work at Auckland Royal Academy's annual fashion showcase. Partnerships with New Zealand textile suppliers, garment manufacturers, and fashion retailers provide authentic industry exposure, while mentorship from established New Zealand designers connects students with professional practice and career development opportunities.
Career Opportunities
Fashion Design graduates work as fashion designers, garment technologists, pattern makers, textile developers, fashion buyers, stylists, and sustainable fashion consultants. New Zealand's growing fashion industry — from emerging designers on Ponsonby Road to manufacturers supplying the Asia-Pacific market — provides a rich professional context, and many graduates have established their own labels and studios.
Program Learning Outcomes
Design and produce fashion garments and collections that demonstrate technical mastery in pattern making, draping, sewing construction, and textile selection, informed by fashion history and contemporary design research.
Apply sustainable design principles — including circular fashion, ethical supply chain management, and natural and recycled fibre use — to fashion design practice, responding to the environmental and social imperatives facing the global fashion industry.
Communicate fashion design ideas effectively through technical drawing, illustration, digital presentation, and collection narrative, demonstrating the professional presentation skills required for industry pitches, wholesale buying appointments, and media communication.
Programme
| Semester 1 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Fashion Design | 4 | FASH 101 |
| Foundations & Theory | 4 | FASH 110 |
| Research Methods | 3 | FASH 120 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Fashion Design I | 4 | FASH 201 |
| Professional Practice | 3 | FASH 210 |
| Industry Context NZ | 4 | FASH 220 |
| Semester 3 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Fashion Design II | 4 | FASH 301 |
| Critical Perspectives | 3 | FASH 310 |
| Ethics & Standards | 3 | FASH 320 |
| Semester 4 | Credits | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Fashion Design | 4 | FASH 401 |
| Specialisation Elective | 3 | FASH 410 |
| Fashion Design Capstone Project | 4 | FASH 490 |
| Total for the entire period of study | 11 |
Contact us
3/60 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
How to Apply?
- You Apply
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll help with the rest. Our convenient online application tool only takes 10 minutes to complete.
- We Connect
After you submit your application, an admissions representative will contact you and will help you to complete the process.
- You Get Ready
Once you’ve completed your application and connected with an admissions representative, you’re ready to create your schedule.