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Fashion

Fashion

Our fashion courses help learners to become highly competent in design, with professional, specialist, practical and technical skills.

With daytime and evening courses to choose from, WAES classes are taught by professional and highly qualified tutors who work within the fashion and textiles industry and are respected for their technical skills and creativity.

At WAES you will:

  • Use new bespoke fashion workshop facilities
  • Gain a thorough introduction to design, sewing-machine skills, fashion embellishment, fabric manipulation, pattern cutting and garment construction techniques
  • Learn to make and market your own product
  • Learn to create scarves, bags, skirts, dresses and tops

Learn new techniques and improve your career prospects

Whether you’re a beginner looking to study our one-day taster sessions or an advanced student considering a career in fashion or self-employment, our aim is to improve your future study and career prospects.

Browse our courses below or contact us for more information.

Funded Courses

For the following courses, you may be eligible for full or partial government funding or a loan, depending on factors like your age, location, residency status, employment situation, or income.

Level 1 NCFE Award in Creative Craft (Fashion)
Next Start Date: 16/01/2026
Other Dates Available: 1

This Level 1 NCFE Award is for beginners, or those with little experience. It will introduce you to the technical and creative skills used in the Fashion Design industry. It will teach you skills necessary to progress onto our UAL Level 2 course in Fashion starting in September.

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Level 1 Foundation in Fashion Design
LOW AVAILABILITY
Day(s): Thursday
Time: 09:30 - 15:30
Weeks: 24
Start Date: 06/11/2025
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £1,200
Level: Level 1
Concessions: Yes

This two term foundation course will introduce you to the basics of fashion design skills and an understanding of the main principles of design. You will explore key design skills that include both practical and theory. The course will provide a strong foundation for progression into further study, leading to an exciting career within the creative industries.

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Level 2 UAL Diploma in Art and Design (Fashion)

This UAL accredited course is designed to develop your creative and practical skills required to work in the fashion industry. Through research, skill-based workshops and experimentation with a range of techniques and materials, you will begin to develop your knowledge of a wide range of creative fashion techniques. The garments you create will be showcased in the end of year fashion show.

Please note: This is a year-long course.

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Full-Cost Courses

The following courses must be paid for in full before starting, but in some cases there may be discounts available depending on eligibility.

Introduction to Clothes Making
Next Start Date: 28/01/2026
Other Dates Available: 1

Learn how to make your own clothes on this short beginner's course. It will teach you how to use the sewing machine, as well as basic sewing techniques and processes. You will learn to construct a simple garment.

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Introduction to Pattern Cutting
Day(s): Monday
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Weeks: 5
Start Date: 11/05/2026
Venue: Lisson Grove Centre
Full Fee: £189
Level: Level 1
Concessions: No

This course will introduction you to the core skills of pattern cutting, enabling you to use basic blocks to create simple patterns. You will learn how to drape on the stand and how to extract a pattern from your design and reproduce it in toile fabric.

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Making a Skirt in Two Days

On this short course where you will learn how to pattern cut and construct a skirt of your own design. You will be also taught how to install a waistband and a zip.

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Introduction to Sewing

The course is ideal for beginners. You will learn how to use a domestic sewing machine, including threading up, filling the bobbin and trouble shooting. You'll also learn how to do basic seams and sew in straight and curved lines.

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Why study at WAES?
  • Highly qualified and professionally experienced tutors
  • Accessible Central London centres with bespoke facilities and great transport connections
  • A wide range of in-person, online, distance learning and community-based courses
  • Unique work experience opportunities through partnerships
  • Guest speakers offer introductions to career pathways in a variety of sectors
  • Excellent progression to employment, apprenticeships or further learning including university