Credit Points: 15
Study Time: 150 Hours

This unit enables you to own creative practice. You will identify a current fashion-related exhibition, located within a gallery, museum or public context, and appropriate research-based visits will be supported, sourced either on a local, national or international basis. You may also find inspiration from a previously held series of fashion-related exhibitions which will identify clear links between your specialist fashion practice and relevant contextual and conceptual frameworks – defining the demand for importance fashion in a public forum.

A focus on defining fashion design aesthetics through both traditional processes and those of 21^st century sustainable and ethical design practice will be encouraged. There will be the opportunity to explore a diversity of creative areas utilising a developed knowledge of textiles, fibre optic displays, paintings, drawings, illustrative and photographic imagery, in order to support representation and interpretation – including catalogues and exhibition-related published books. The research may further inform and inspire your creative processes, both at level six practice based unit/s or the Investigative Report unit.

Outline Syllabus

• Development of critical argument with a diversity of research methodologies and theoretical analyses 
• Period, contemporary and futuristic design practice and construction ideals - male and female 
• Evaluation of 21^st century sustainable and ethical design practice
• Textile and fibre optic displayed forms 
• Interpretation and critical evaluation through visual communication 
• Consolidation of organisational skills, independent learning and self-management 
• Bibliography of research processes

Method of Delivery
Lectures; group seminars, individual tutorials and independent research study.

Aims

A1 To develop a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the subject of fashion including design, communication, promotion and technology to reflect the philosophy of the course.
A2 To identify links between your specialist topic and the relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks.
A3 To establish an understanding of the various processes and methods of primary and secondary research related to subject specialist practice
A4 To develop the organisational skills which will enable independent learning and self- management.

Learning Outcomes

LO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fashion themes from a broad-base to an in- depth study within your chosen and self-selected area of interest.
LO2 Demonstrate your ability to make links between your specialist topic and relevant theoretical/conceptual frameworks.
LO3 Demonstrate your understanding of the various processes and methods of primary and secondary research related to subject specialist practice.
LO4 Demonstrate the application of organisational skills and evidence of independent learning and self-management.

Reference Material

Key
Addressing the Century – 100 years of Fashion London: Hayward Gallery
Breward, C, Gilbert, D and Lister, J (Eds) (2006) Swinging Sixties V & A Publications
Bruzzi, S and Gibson, PC (Eds) (2000) Fashion Cultures: Theories, Explorations and Analysis Routledge
Golbin, P (Ed) (2006) Balenciaga Paris London: Thames and Hudson/ Les Arts decoratifs, Paris
Taylor, L (2002) The Study of Dress History Manchester: Manchester University Press
Wilcox, C (Ed) (2001) Radical Fashion V & A Publications

Recommended
Barnard, M (1996) Fashion as Communication London: Routledge
Brewarrd, C (2003) Fashion Oxford University Press
Craik, J (1993) The Face of Fashion Routledge
Cumming, V (2003) Understanding Fashion History Batsford
Vincent, S (2003) Dressing the Elite Berg

Articles
Breward, C, "Cultures, Identities, Histories: Fashioning a Cultural Approach to Dress", in, Fashion Theory, the Journal of Dress, Body & Culture (1998) Volume 2 Issue 4, December, pp 261-277
Ribeiro, A, "Re-Fashioning Art: Some Visual Approaches to the Study of Dress", in, Fashion Theory, the Journal of Dress, Body & Culture (1998) Volume 2 Issue 4, December, pp 315-325
Styles, J, "Dress in History: Reflections on a Contested Terrain", in, Fashion Theory, the Journal of Dress, Body and Culture (1998) Volume 2 Issue 4, December, pp 381-389

Journals
Cloth paper scissors // Costume the Journal of the Costume Society – Exhibition and Gallery reviews // Fashion Theory the Journal of Dress, Body and Culture Berg – Exhibition and Gallery reviews // Fibrearts // The Journal of Design History // Selvedge // Text // Textile – the journal of cloth and culture // Textiles