Fashion Business

Overview

The fashion industry is rapidly evolving: technological developments, global influences and shifts in consumer behaviour mean that there has never been a more exciting time to study Fashion Business. You will study fashion business models and strategies, marketing, buying, data analytics, with digital transformation, sustainability and responsible business practice being overarching principles.

Through working on projects and industry case studies, you will develop your fashion business acumen in an industry context. You will have conference opportunities, work experience, visits and trips. You will develop a skill set that combines specialist knowledge with strategic thinking to help you develop an exciting career as a fashion business professional with a wide range of opportunities within the fashion industry.

With access our award-winning facilities, you are able to experience a ‘hands on’ approach to learning about fashion product through our textile labs. This makes our Fashion Business a unique course that also offers an option to transfer to the Fashion Buying with Marketing or Merchandising course after the first year. Expert subject staff are on hand to guide students in their progression through a strong tutoring system and network of opportunity.

Key features

• We are recognised as one of the country’s most sustainable fashion and textiles schools (Green Gown Awards, 2021) and one of the best fashion schools in the world for 2022 (CEOWORLD, 2022).

• Connect with external Associations and trade organisations such as Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) and Association for Fashion Business Employability (AFBE) to grow your skills and confidence and your network.

• Engage with industry partners to learn exciting insights that could inspire you, feed into your work, and connect you with your future role.

• Learn fashion finance – the budgets, trading forecasts, effective sales analysis and planning.

• Develop industry-recognised merchandising expertise through an understanding of range building, sales forecasting, critical path management and presentation skills.

• Enhance your career prospects by choosing a year-long placement in the UK or overseas. Our students have experienced life at Tommy Hilfiger, O'Neill, Next, Marks & Spencer, Reiss, George, Selfridges, River Island, Joules, G-Star, Mamas & Papas, and at several supply bases. Many go on to work for these big brands, or are now running their own successful businesses.

• Take part in our international experience programme, DMU Global. Fashion students have benefited from trips to Porto, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and New York, meeting key influencers at top fashion brands.

• Utilise an award-winning design space – the Vijay Patel Building – containing specialist facilities to foster fresh ideas and creativity.

• Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.

First year
Block 1: Fashion Consumer and Marketplace
Block 2: Fashion Business
Block 3: Fashion Lifecycle
Block 4: Sustainable Futures

Second year
Block 1: Business Models and Fashion Management
Block 2: Design Innovation and Sustainable Futures
Block 3: Fashion Business Analytics
Block 4: Marketing, Communications and Branding

Third year
Block 1 and 2: Strategic Fashion Business Solutions and Enterprise and Innovation 
Block 3 and 4: Major Research Project

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Structure
This includes design studio practice, formal lectures, group seminars, tutorials, lab work and practical workshops. There are regular tutorials and reviews which allow you to reflect and develop your work ready for your final presentation at the end of the year.

Contact hours
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through coursework (presentations, essays and reports) Your precise timetable will depend on the optional modules you choose to take, however, in your first year you will normally attend around 15 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 25 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.