Course overview
You will research the history of costume whilst building up your practical skills in pattern construction and tailoring for both men’s and women’s wear. Learning period costume skills such as corsetry as well as designing and creating costume embellishment using machine and hand sewing techniques. Our college has its own musical theatre department allowing for in-house work experience working towards the creation of a final garment for a real production.
Upon completion of this course, you will have a professional portfolio showcasing your technical skills to move on to a career within a theatre or film costume department or progress to University.
What you will learn
- Costume Design & History of Costume
- Pattern Construction
- Ladies Period Foundation Garments
- Gents Costume Cutting and Construction
- Costume Fitting Skills
- Designing & Creating Costume Embellishment
- Corsetry
Entry requirements
- NQ Fashion Design with Costume award OR
- NC Fashion Design and Manufacture award OR
- 2 Highers in Art, English, Fashion and Textiles or equivalent
For this course, if English is not your first language
- you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
- If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.
Entry is by interview.
Ideally you should be able demonstrate your creative practical and technical ability with a folio of work demonstrating design development, garment designs and/or completed/customised garments.
Career Opportunities
Your career in the industry could lead to roles such as Costume/Wardrobe assistant or Costume Cutter within theatre/film or tv, self-employed Costume Designer, curator/museum work, or progression onto costume degrees.
Future prospects
Previous Glasgow Kelvin College students have gone on to work on the Outlander costume team, self-employed costume contracts for film and self-employed cosplay creators, as well as progressing on to the The Royal Conservatoire for Scotland.
Real Industry Connections
Students are encouraged to gain practical work experience alongside their studies, and we have our very own in-house productions in collaboration with our Musical Theatre students to provide students with a live real-life project to design and make for, to build up their costume portfolio. There are also industry visits to local museums to view historical fashion for design inspiration, dependant on the theme for their project as well as guest speakers.