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Study Fashion & Textiles Abroad

Fashion design, textiles, technology and business: how clothing and materials are created, made, marketed and sold.

Explore specializations

Explore specializations

20 specializations

Why study Fashion & Textiles?

Fashion and textiles cover the creative, technical and commercial sides of clothing, footwear, accessories and materials. Design specializations such as Fashion Design, Textile Design, Footwear Design and Costume Design sit alongside Textile Technology, Fashion Buying, Fashion Marketing and Luxury Fashion.

Depending on their route, students develop skills in drawing, pattern cutting, garment construction, fabric development and digital design, or in trend analysis, merchandising, branding and retail strategy. Many programmes include live industry briefs, collections and placements.

The subject suits students with a strong visual sense and an interest in culture and consumers, whether their strengths lie in making, in materials science or in business. Fashion is a global industry, with design, sourcing, manufacturing and retail spread across different countries, so studying abroad can offer useful perspective on how the whole supply chain connects.

Career pathways

Where can this take you?

Depending on the specialization and portfolio, career pathways can include:

  • Fashion Designer
  • Textile Designer
  • Pattern Cutter
  • Garment Technologist
  • Footwear Designer
  • Costume Designer
  • Fashion Buyer
  • Merchandiser
  • Fashion Marketing Manager
  • Brand Manager
  • Stylist
  • Fashion Journalist or Editor
  • Sustainability Specialist
  • Product Developer

Pathways depend on the specialization, qualification, country and experience. No particular outcome is implied.

Industries

Where these skills are used.

  • Fashion Houses & Luxury Brands Design-led businesses creating collections and luxury goods.
  • Apparel & Footwear Retail High-street, online and sportswear brands designing and selling at scale.
  • Textile Manufacturing & Materials Mills and material developers producing fabrics, yarns and technical textiles.
  • Sourcing & Supply Chain Teams managing suppliers, production, quality and compliance.
  • Fashion Media & Communication Magazines, digital media, agencies and content teams.
  • Costume & Performance Film, television and theatre wardrobe departments.
  • Sustainable & Circular Fashion Businesses working on resale, repair, recycling and lower-impact materials.

Employers

Fashion professionals work across organisations such as:

  • LVMH
  • Kering
  • Chanel
  • Burberry
  • Inditex
  • H&M Group
  • Fast Retailing
  • PVH

Organisations are listed in no particular order. This is not a ranking or endorsement, does not imply any partnership with Application Abroad, and is not a guarantee of employment.

Looking ahead

What's changing in this field?

Fashion is evolving through sustainability. Students may increasingly encounter circular design, repair and resale models, material innovation, and regulation on product information and textile waste, all of which are reflected in Fashion Sustainability.

Technology is changing both design and business. 3D design and virtual sampling, digital product passports, data-led merchandising and on-demand production are being adopted in parts of the industry, and generative AI is starting to influence trend research and imagery. Resale platforms and rental services are creating business models that sit alongside traditional retail.

Other areas receiving growing attention include supply-chain transparency and working conditions, adaptive and inclusive clothing, and the relationship between luxury, craft and heritage. Designers and managers who understand materials, people and data together may find these changes open up new roles.

Where to study Fashion & Textiles

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Study Abroad Consultants for Fashion & Textiles

Consultants who list Fashion & Textiles among the study areas they support.

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Listings are not rankings or endorsements. Check services and fees directly with each consultant.

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