Fashion Design & Business: Advanced Diploma

Advanced Diploma & Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising (LMT50607 & LMT60507)

Next Course Start Date: 14th March 2011 - GOLD COAST
Next Course Start Date: 14th March 2011 - BRISBANE

The fashion industry consists of more career opportunities than just fashion design, pattern-making and garment construction. Of the approximately 125000 perople working in the Australian clothing industry approximately 21000 are invovled in producing clothes.

To be successful in the fashion industry, students must develop a sense of what the consumers want, what works, what sells and how to effectively market it. The Advanced Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising teaches students the essential b usiness and marketing skills to succeed in the fashion industry.

The AIFD Advanced Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising course offers students intensive training in fashion business processes including product development, fashion business management, buying, marketing, textile design, computer aided design to give students the skills to work in their chosen area of the fashion industry.

The course is taught by trainers who have had vast experience (the majority with over 20 years experience) working within the fashion industry and most of whom still currently work within the industry. This gives our students the ability to gain valuable insights from trainers with real industry experience and benefit from their experiences, knowledge and industry contacts.

Students also have the opportunity of visiting industry only events such as Australian Fashion Week and Fashion Exposed during the course of their study. Students participate in work placement during their study with us, which again offers students more valuable experience in the fashion industry.

Students who successfully compelte the Diploma in Fashion & Textiles Merchandising course, which takes 12 months to complete, may then continue on to the Advanced Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising, which takes a further 6 months to complete and is designed to give students valuable business and management skills.

What is the difference between the Applied Fashion Design & Technology course and the Fashion & Textiles Merchandising Course?

The Fashon & Textiles Merchandising course teaches students design, marketing, merchandising and business skills. Students who take the Applied Fashion Design & Technology course will learn design, sewing, patternmaking - in other words, in the Applied Fashion Design & Technology course students learn to make their own designs, whereas in the Fashion & Textiles Merchandising course, students will learn how to design and then market and sell their own designs, but will not make them themselves.

It is possible to do both courses (over two years) for those students who would like to learn how to produce their own fashion designs as well as learn the business skills for running their own fashion label.

Designs by Jamie Allen

Additional Study Options

Fashion Design & Fashion Business

Students have the option of completing the Diploma course along with the Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design & Technology over 2 years full time. As a number of the units of competency overlap in both courses, students who complete both qualifications should contact administration to discuss this option.

Fashion Business & Fashion Styling

Students who complete the Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising are also able to complete the Certificate III in Styling (Fashion, Image & Media) at the same time. This option is perfect for students who are looking to get into fashion buying, merchandising, styling, PR and fashion journalism. Click here to find out more about this option.

Designs by Amy Chong

Career Opportunities

On successful completion of the Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising students will have the opportunity to work in positions in the fashion industry such as:

• Fashion Business Manager
• Fashion Merchandiser
• Fashion Coordinator
• Visual Merchandiser
• Assistant Designer
• Fashion Business Owner
• Fashion Designer
• Textile Designer
• Fashion Marketing Agent
• Fashion Buyer
• Production Manager
• Fashion Stylist
• Fashion Public Relations
• Fashion Graphic Illustrator
• Production Assistant
• Sales Manager
• Business Owner
• Fashion Forecaster
• Importer / Exporter
• Fashion Magazine Editor
• Event Management

Students with a particular interest in a career as a fashion editor for a magazine or fashion stylist, can also undertake the Advanced Makeup & Styling course (Certificate III in Styling - Fashion, Image & Media) in conjunction with the Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising.

Topic Areas Covered

The following topic areas are covered within the Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising course:

• Developing a business plan
• Product Design
• Spec Drawing
• Trend Forecasting
• Production Planning
• Computer aided design
• Textiles Design & Development
• Importing & Exporting
• Production Management
• Sales Management
• Visual Merchandising
• Fashion Buying
• Fashion Marketing & PR
• Fashion Forecasting
• Contracts
• Costing Design Production
• Fashion Event Management
• On Shore & Off Shore Production
• Fashion Show Production 
• Label Development Workshopping
• Managing Global Operations
• Starting your own fashion business

Qualification & Units of Competency

LMT50607: Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising

UNIT CODE	UNIT NAME
LMTGN2009B	Operate computing technology in a TCF workplace
LMTTX2001B	Identify fibres, yarns and textile materials and their uses in textile production
LMTCL2003B	Identify fibres and fabrics
LMTGN4018A	Apply TCF market supply systems (P)
LMTGN4019A	Analyse TCF merchandising and marketing systems
LMTFD4004B	Calculate cost estimates for fashion products
LMTFD4006B	Interact and network with fashion industry participants
LMTFD4017B	Source materials and resources for production of fashion design
BSBMKG402A	Analyse consumer behaviour for specific markets
LMTFD3004B	Draw a trade drawing for fashion design
LMTTD4006A	Source textile materials and resources
LMTTD4007A	Analyse textile design influences
LMTFD4003B	Assist in preparation of preliminary design concepts
LMTFD4005B	Communicate and sell design concepts
LMTFD4012B	Develop product specifications for fashion design (P)
LMTFD4014B	Identify contemporary fashion influences and construction techniques
LMTFD4020B	Use electronic fashion design tools
LMTTD4008A	Present and promote textile design concepts
LMTFD4018B	Use and apply sizing systems appropriate for fashion design
LMTFD5007B	Analyse influences on contemporary fashion designs
BSBMKG416A	Market goods and services internationally
BSBMKG415A	Research international markets
BSBINT409B	Plan for international trade
LMTGN5002B	Coordinate quality assurance for TCF products and services
LMTGN5003B	Work with international TCF supply chains
LMTGN5008A	Identify opportunities in the TCF market (P)
LMTFD5010B	Develop and present concepts within specified guidelines
BSBMKG413A	Promote products and services
LMTFD5008B	Conduct fashion design purchasing
LMTGN5001B	Participate in production planning processes
LMTTD5007A	Develop textile designs using computer based design programs
LMTFD5013B	Develop merchandising plans for fashion products
LMTFD5004B	Develop marketing plans for fashion products
LMTFD5009B	Cost design production (P)

LMT60507:Advanced Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising

UNIT CODE	UNIT NAME
BSBMKG510A	Plan electronic marketing communications
LMTGN6001B	Develop and implement a sales or marketing plan
LMTGN6003B	Research and evaluate processes and products
LMTGN6006A	Map and establish TCF supply chain process
LMTGN6002B	Manage quality system and procedures
LMTGN6004B	Negotiate and manage design production process
LMTTD6003A	Develop a textile product range
LMTFD6006B	Develop a fashion range
BSBDES602A	Research global design trends
LMTFD5006B	Evaluate fashion designs against set criteria

(Please note: TCF is an abbreviation for Textiles, Clothing and Footwear)

Course Duration and Term Dates

The Advanced Diploma takes a year and a half to complete full-time (6 terms). Embedded within the Advanced Diploma course is the Diploma, which is completed within the first year of study (4 terms).

The course runs for 3 days per week from 9am – 4.30pm (with a half hour lunch break).

Click on the arrows below to go forward or backward through each intake's term dates. Please note that term dates are subject to change, please contact us to confirm future dates if required.

Applications

Domestic Students Only

International Students Please Click Here

Application and Enrolment Process:

1. Attend an interview at the college and complete an interview test - phone (07)55938335 to arrange your interview. (If you live outside the South East Qld Region and are unable to attend an interview, you may complete a phone interview).
2. Fill out and return the Application Form (this can be completed at the interview).
3. Student's will recieve their acceptance/non-acceptance letter and enrolment pack - including enrolment form, payment plan forms and the student handbook.
4. After reading the student handbook and enrolment forms, student's who wish to enrol must submit the enrolment form with the course deposit to secure their position in the course.

Course Fees - Domestic Students

International Students Please Click Here

Course fees include:

• tuition
• class notes
• use of the school’s equipment
• school t-shirt.

The course fees are for a position in the course and are payable whether the student completes the course or not. Upon enrolling in the course, the student is liable to the college for the course fees in full.

To secure a position in the course, students must pay a minimum course deposit of 10% of the discounted upfront course cost.

Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising (1 year full time)

DISCOUNTED UPFRONT PAYMENT: $15,000 (Domestic Students Only)
• $1,500 non-refundable deposit required to enrol.
• $13,500 balance due on course commencement.

PAYMENT PLAN: $16,500 (Domestic Students Only)
• $1,500 non-refundable deposit required to enrol.
• $15,000 balance paid in weekly installments, direct debited from your selected bank account over the duration of your study.

Advanced Diploma of Fashion & Textiles Merchandising (1 ½ years full time)

UPFRONT PAYMENT: $23,000 (Domestic Students Only)
• $2,300 non-refundable deposit required to enrol.
• $20,700 balance due on course commencement.

PAYMENT PLAN: $25,300 (Domestic Students Only)
• $2,300 non-refundable deposit required to enrol.
• $23,000 balance paid in weekly installments, direct debited from your selected bank account over the duration of your study.

Additional Costs:

• Student ID Card: $25
• Printing & photocoping by student.
• Students will be required to pay for their graduation dinner for themselves and any guests. Students will be advised on the price in advance – allow $80 per person.

Required Course Equipment:

A detailed equipment list is provided on course application and is also available by request.

Students will need to provide the following equipment:

• Art Equipment (approx: $200)
• 2 Textbooks (approximately $250)
• Basic stationary: i.e. display folders, notepad, pens, pencil, rubber. (approx: $50)
• USB Thumb Drive (2GB recommended minimum)
• Student's will reqiure a laptop/notebook computer with the Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office installed- see below for details.

LAPTOP / NOTEBOOK REQUIREMENT:

Students accepted into the program will be required to have a laptop computer with a wireless network connection. The following specifications are required:

• Wireless 802.11n
• Minimum 1Gb RAM
• CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
• 2Ghz or faster processor
• Internet Explorer 7 or better (free online)
• Norton Anti Virus - Students will not be allowed to connect to our network without Norton Anti Virus installed.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (free online)
• Microsoft Office 97 or better with Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access.*
• Adobe Creative Suite Design Standard - Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.*

* Please check software manufacturers minimum system requirements. Student pricing available.

If you need to purchase a laptop for this course AICD can organise this for you, speak to administration for more information.

Financial Assistance

Eligible students may be able to apply to Centrelink for either Youth Allowance (for full-time students aged 16 to 24) or Austudy (for full-time students aged 25 years or over). For more information visit the Centrelink website.

The National Bank offers a ‘Tertiary Student Package Deferred Repayment Loan’ allowing students to borrow up to $10 000 for first year study with no fees. For more information visit the NAB website.