So, you pretty much know all the details and info on studying a Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles at UTS — take a quick look here if you don’t!
But you want to know how people really feel about this degree?
Well, we’ve got you covered! Meet Maddi, a Fashion and Textiles Graduate from UTS! We ask her those questions you really want to know the answers to.
So, let’s dive in!
Why should you study a Fashion and Textiles degree at UTS?
Top 3 Pros of a Fashion and Textiles Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Fashion and Textiles Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting UTS Fashion and Textiles
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying UTS Fashion and Textiles
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Fashion and Textiles degree at UTS?
A Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles at UTS encourages you to be an innovative designer and push the boundaries of the contemporary fashion scene.
You’ll learn about the principles of design and how they inform your design choices, the history of fashion among many other interesting subjects and of course, the practical skills you need to make a garment!
Top 3 Pros of a Fashion and Textiles degree
#1: Great balance between theory and practical
“It’s not you need to make garments all day — there’s so much more to it that they offer you, thinking about it theoretically and more practically,” Maddi told us.
“The course is mixed with theoretical subjects like Fashion History and Gender Roles in Fashion but then you also get a really good scope of practical things like sewing and construction and textile printing,” she added.
UTS Fashion and Textiles focuses on you as the designer and how you can reflect a concept or story through your clothing. That means there are hands-on practical classes where you’re actually designing garments based on a certain idea and also more theoretical classes which focus on the principles of design, innovative thinking and design histories. So, it’s definitely a great mix!
#2: The teaching staff
Maddi said that a lot of the teachers are doing their own PhDs or working in industry which means they’re across the latest trends, information and industry knowledge!
“We always had a curator at the Powerhouse come and speak to us or someone who had just launched a fashion brand. You felt really relevant which was good,” she said.
#3: Honours
Now, there is the chance for you to complete an Honours year if you wish to (you don’t have, of course but Maddi does recommend it).
Maddi told us that the fourth year/Honours was her favourite part about the degree! “I just felt like it was where you could finally put everything you had learnt over the three years into practice,” she said.
“You put all of the skills and things you’ve collected along the way, work hard for a year and then add a little thesis and put out a collection. It just made me feel like I could apply my skills and I was kind of ready to go out into the workforce,” Maddi said.
Find out more about the Honours program right here! And why UTS is the second top Art and Design School in Australia here.
Top 3 Cons of a Fashion and Textiles degree
#1: Little flexibility with course structure
Maddi said that her least favourite part about the degree was that it was already pre-planned.
“When you think of uni, you can usually tailor it to what you want to do but this was already set out for you,” she said.
“I’ve heard people that combine this degree struggle a lot because if you miss a subject, it’s only offered at that same time the next year so it really staggers when you can graduate,” she added.
#2: Extra costs
So, unfortunately yes — you do have to buy your own fabrics and materials which can be quite expensive.
“There are quite a lot of extra costs involved that you wouldn’t have with another course because it’s so practical. To have had that more clearly laid out by the uni would have been good,” Maddi said.
She added, “I do know a few people that started and were like, ‘Wow — okay, I didn’t realise that this is what they would expect me to pay, I can’t really afford that,’ so naturally they had to make other arrangements.”
#3: Internships aren’t part of the degree
Unfortunately, there aren’t any mandatory internships included as part of your degree. That means that if you want to do one, you’ll have to organise it yourself which can be challenging.
Maddi told us that she still did a few internships throughout her degree but it was sometimes hard because some places don’t accept you if it’s not required as part of your degree (insurance and so on…).
“If it was a part of the course — and I think it’s super important to do that for any course — it would probably be easier for students to do it and then you aren’t taking time out of your day because most people have a part-time job. So trying to cram that in even though the hours didn’t go to anything was a little bit hard,” she expressed.
Any regrets?
Maddi didn’t have any regrets about her degree but more about uni in general.
She explained how it took her quite some time to get to uni and back so when she was busy, she often found herself rushing home after class. That meant, she often didn’t have time to hang out on campus.
“I loved how the people lived on campus and that was a kind of really cool experience for them and they all became really good friends and had a really great community. So if I was probably to go back to uni I would look at integrating more into the extracurricular of the uni, not necessarily just the course,” she said.
What do you wish you had known before starting UTS Fashion and Textiles?
It is a pretty full-on degree and you have to give it your all! But as long as you’re passionate about it, you’ll be fine!
“Definitely be interested in it because it’s a lot of hard work and you’ve got to love what you do,” Maddie said.
She also mentioned that it is a “super well-rounded course” which means you might not be as interested in sewing but love the design process or the fashion history side of things.
“It’s kind of got a little bit for everyone so you can tailor your needs throughout the course,” she said.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
#1: Encouraged to push boundaries
“They really pushed us to be super creative and always have a story behind what we were doing and not just copying a dress we liked or wanted to wear on the weekend — everything was really thoughtful and thought-provoking,” Maddi said.
“They didn’t want us to just be normal — they wanted us to do different things so I think they pushed us to do that and that was a really great thing,” she added.
There’s no doubt when your ideas are challenged and you’re pushed outside of your comfort zone, that’s usually where the magic happens! Plus UTS gives you the opportunity to experiment and learn from your mistakes in a safe environment — the best way to learn and develop your skills as a designer.
#2: Travel opportunities
There are some great travel opportunities offered within the Design faculty and more specifically, for Fashion and Textiles! Maddi went on two trips to India and China — both for two weeks.
“I made some really great friends doing that and obviously learnt a lot about different cultures and what textile means to them,” Maddi told us.
“They really push people to go on them and they make it super accessible and it’s really inclusive of all different people,” she added.
So make sure you check out the Global Studio: Fashion and Textiles A and B. If you need some financial assistance, have a look at this!
What inspired you to choose UTS Fashion and Textiles?
Maddi told us that before she started the course, she went to the fashion show that UTS graduating students used to put on at the end of the year (unfortunately they stopped).
She said it was a huge event and a great production with models, hair and make-up (the real deal!). “Every time I saw it, I was like I need to do this. This is so amazing that these people can create this in uni — like it’s so professional.”
She added, “It’s such a good thing for people who don’t know anything about it who might be interested to see and get inspired from.”
And that’s how Maddi ended up choosing this degree!
What are the possible career paths?
You can work in any area of the fashion industry! But since the degree has such strong foundations in design, you can also branch out to other areas of design if you wanted to.
These are just a few of jobs you could find yourself in:
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- Fashion designer
- Fashion forecaster
- Fashion writer/journalist
- Business owner
- Creator of a fashion line
- Stylist
- Retail buyer
- Brand manager
- Blogger/influencer
- Jewellery designer
Tanna Nankivell is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and is currently in Germany completing a year of study for her double degree in Communications (Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts (International Studies). She has had articles published on Central News – the UTS Journalism Lab and wrote a feature piece for Time Out Sydney during her internship. Tanna has a love for travel and the great outdoors, you’ll either find her on the snowfields or in the ocean, teaching aqua aerobics or creating short films.
