SIT's Bachelor of Fashion (Design and Technology) emphasises both the creative and technical aspects of the fashion industry, from concept and design development through to production. The theoretical areas of the course provide students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the socio-cultural influence on fashion and to extend their ability to work through the design development process. The practical areas of the course allow students to realise these concepts in the form of 3D outcomes. Students will explore the interaction between design thinking and realisation. This balance between the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills that underpin the programme, is essential for the development of an inquiring creative fashion designer. In the first two years, the programme is structured to allow students to gain a solid understanding of the design development process, understand fashion from a cultural perspective, explore a wide variety of 2D imagery and build their capacity of pattern development and garment construction for a diverse selection of garment types. The third year provides opportunities for students to develop these skills to a point where they are used in a more professional context in preparation for successful careers in the fashion industry and/or further study. This degree offers ‘real world’ projects: making real garments for real people. Students have access to fully automatic industrial sewing machines and computer programmes and hardware used for computer-aided pattern-making. They also have many opportunities to gain public exposure at fashion shows, competitions and SIT Fashion - our central city fashion shop. Career opportunities: The degree will prepare graduates for employment in the fashion industry and/or further study by developing creative, innovative designers who are culturally aware, consumer conscious and skilled in the technological aspects of the fashion industry. Graduates of the programme will be skilled in research, design development, manual and CAD pattern making, garment construction, illustration, portfolio presentation, written and oral communication and have sound knowledge of business marketing and management practices in the fashion industry. Graduates will be able to express their personal vision of fashion through innovative design, while considering the practical aspects of garment manufacture and fulfilling the requirements of a brief. They will have acquired the skills to develop innovative designs from original research, then produce those garments demonstrating their talent as designers, their design philosophies and their abilities as technicians in fashion production. By mastering traditional skills and utilising current technology, graduates will be able to enhance and communicate their creative design and technological abilities and work in the fashion industry as multi-skilled, innovative professionals and/or be prepared for postgraduate study both within New Zealand and overseas. Course Content Year One: BF501 Fashion Design and Production One BF502 Fashion Design and Production Two BF503 Fashion Design and Production Three BF504 Fashion Design and Production Four Year Two BF601 Fashion Design and Production (Specialised) BF602 Fashion Design and Production (Competition) BF603 Fashion Design and Production (Costume) BF604 Fashion Design and Production (Client) Year Three: BF701 Specialised Practices; BF702 Collection; BF703 Professional Practices Satisfactory Completion: The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 360 credits for successful completion of the degree.