Fashion: Design & Production with Retail: HND

Two fashion students organizing and selecting design patterns in a creative workspace.

Qualification

HND

Study Mode

Full Time

Duration

1 Year - 2.5 Days per week

Start date

Aug 2026

Campus

Springburn

Applications open January 2026

Course overview

Design, create and showcase your own fashion collections.

This innovative course blends creative design, garment manufacture and retail insight, giving you a complete view of the modern fashion industry — from concept to catwalk.

In your first year, you’ll explore the full design process, building skills in sketching, digital design, industrial sewing, textiles and merchandising. You’ll bring your ideas to life by creating a full outfit for the annual Glasgow Kelvin College Fashion Show, showcasing your creative vision and technical skill.

In second year, you’ll refine your expertise through advanced pattern cutting, tailoring, store design and couture garment production. The tailoring unit includes the chance to study menswear design and manufacture — a rare specialism in the college sector that strengthens your versatility and industry appeal.

Taught by staff with real-world experience and strong industry links, this course prepares you for a range of creative and technical careers in fashion design, production and retail.

This course is ideal for:

Creative learners with a strong interest in design, textiles and garment construction.
Those seeking to develop advanced manufacturing and retail skills.
Students with a foundation in fashion or design looking to move into higher-level study.
Individuals aiming for professional careers or degree-level progression in fashion and retail.

What you will learn

Throughout the course, you’ll develop the creative and professional skills used by today’s designers and production specialists, including:

Contemporary & Digital Fashion Design – concept creation and computer-aided design.
Tailoring & Manufacture – advanced pattern cutting and garment construction.
Bridal & Evening Wear – couture embellishment and fine finishing techniques.
Textile Technology & Production Processes – fabric properties and material innovation.
Fashion Merchandising & Forecasting – understanding markets, trends and buying cycles.
Retail & Store Design – visual merchandising and brand presentation.
Professional Practice – portfolio development, presentation and teamwork.

You’ll also take part in industry visits, guest workshops and buying trips, giving you genuine exposure to fashion business operations and retail trends.

Entry requirements

✅ NC Fashion Design and Manufacture qualification OR

✅ Two Highers in Art, English, or Fashion & Textiles, or equivalent experience

✅ Entry by interview — applicants should ideally present a folio of work showing design development, sketches, garment designs or completed/customised pieces.

ℹ️ Applicants must be 16 years or older at the start of the course.

ℹ️ 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.