Textile and Material Inspiration
Overview
The goal of this unit is to develop an understanding of materials and textiles and how they are applied in a fashion context. Students will explore textiles in a cultural and historical context to understand manufacturing processes, fabric performance and sustainability. Students will conduct fabric testing and explore experimental textile techniques. They will learn how to choose appropriate materials and apply visualise design inspiration to fashion concepts and prototypes.
Requisites
Rules
Pre-requisite
Admitted to the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) and students undertaking the MN-DESF Fashion Design Minor in the Bachelor of Design ; Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (Honours); Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours); Bachelor of Architecture
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of various textile materials, their properties, and the implications of these properties on design, functionality and sustainability.
- Apply an understanding of cultural and historical context to the selection of textiles including First Nations knowledges
- Develop appropriate fabric/textile choices to suit a design brief
- Create design visualisation and prototyping that effectively communicate design concepts
Teaching methods
All applicable locations
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Venue Type and Activity Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Studio | 36 | 12 weeks | 3 | Venue: Fashion Design Studio |
| Unspecified Activities | Various | 36 | 12 weeks | 3 | Module material, videos, readings, discussion and learning activities |
| Unspecified Activities | Independent Learning | 78 | 12 weeks | 6.5 | Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | ||
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Project | Individual | 30% | 1,3,4 |
| Drawing Portfolio | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Research Project | Individual | 30% | 1,2 |
Content
- Textile types and fabric testing: woven, knits, fibre webs, natural vs. synthetic fibres
- Fabric selection: design, functionality and sustainability
- Fabric application: day, evening wear, tailored, knits
- Textile applications: colour, printing and surface embellishments
- Textile manufacturing processes and pattern design for production
- Cultural context including First Nations knowledge and influences on textile design
- Graduate Attribute: Communication 2 - Communicating using different media
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.