Buttoning Up a Fashion School with Mimi: University of Westminster

UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER

LONDON, ENGLAND

University of Westminster is located in the borrow of Harrow in the northwest part of London. Like most schools in Europe, it's a three year institution with the option of a work year extending the school term to four years. They want SAT's or ACT's, AP exams grades, and they are looking for a GPA of 3.2

The campus has been going through some renovations including the "A Block" which houses fashion students and their studios.

This "A Block" also houses fine arts and music students. Can you imagine what a wonderful atmosphere this is! This also the home to The Forum where students display their work - but maybe not like that!

This school has an outstanding reputation for developing highly talented designers, Alexander McQueen for example.

Westminster has a strong philosophy for students developing original personal design and cultivating their unique talent. In a students second year, they participate in a design project paired with a major fashion company. Last year it was with ASOS - the largest on line retailer in the UK - where students created a capsule collection and went on to sell the collection on website over the summer!

Other industry pairings are with Harrods, Abercrombie & Finch, Ben Sherman and Topman.

England hosts a Portfolio Preview Day in May - with 28 UK colleges showcasing their work to a panel of judges and industry experts such as Pringle of Scotland and the British Fashion Design Council. This must be like a "career day" for some other area of studies. This past year, Westminster's BA Fashion Course won both the "Fashion Monitor College Portfolio Award" as well as the British Fashion Council's "Fashion Illustrated Award"! It must be exhilarating to have your first day in the world of job hunting AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER!

Year one covers basic elements of fashion design discipline, including 2-D and 3-D practices, design, research, illustration, pattern cutting, construction, traditional research, print and CAD. What is CAD? Computer Aided Design. Just showed my age!

Also in her first year Mimi could take classes in tailoring and menswear - which she wants to do.

This includes Fabrication and Print, I am thinking this is where a student gets to design and create their own fabric rather than shop for it.

In the second year students will have a 8 week period of work in the fashion industry and learn to make a fashion proposal.

I think learning about a fashion proposal is imperative for graduating students. I imagine Westminster does this instruction in the second year because of the "sandwich" year offer. A student can take turn the third year into a industry work year and continue their studies in the fourth year. You get a real feel of employment upon graduating with the school top reputation and connections.