Why study A Level Fashion and Textiles: shaping future creatives
07 January 2025
Meghan Martin, fashion and textiles teacher
I’m a fashion and textiles teacher at St Paul’s Catholic School, and in this blog I look at why students might consider studying the Fashion and Textiles option of OCR’s A Level Design and Technology qualification.
The OCR A Level qualification is challenging, creative and effectively prepares learners for related further study and careers in the industry. Over the years, because of the content and nature of the course, my students have successfully gone straight to related degrees at prestigious art and design universities without taking a foundation course.
I am an official outreach partner for one of these universities, and have attended professional development sessions regarding what they look for in potential student’s portfolios. I know that they seek out students who are problem-solvers, understand iterative design and are design risk takers – all features that are developed and honed by OCR A Level Fashion and Textiles. The qualification also allows students to maximise their cross curricular skills and wider understanding of the world.
Why is Fashion and Textiles A Level so important?
As a society, we greatly value textiles, more than the average person would probably realise. Fabric is ingrained in our day-to-day lives, something we are in constant contact with 24 hours a day. For most people, this value comes in the form of fashion. Buying and wearing clothing we like makes us feel good and allows us to express our culture, style and ideals.
An average young person will without hesitation be able to tell you about what they love about fashion. It is something that can both unite and as easily divide, yet people have never been more out of touch with how fabric and clothing is made.
This is why OCR Fashion and Textiles A Level is such an incredibly important subject area. It equips students with both the practical skills and theoretical knowledge essential for the ever-evolving creative industries. The course not only teaches students the technical aspects of design and production, such as sewing, pattern-making, and fabric manipulation, but also immerses them in the theoretical frameworks that underpin the fashion world. Students explore concepts like sustainability, ethical sourcing, and the impact of fashion on culture and society.
What skills and mindset do students develop?
Studying A Level Fashion and Textiles offers a unique blend of creativity, technical skill, and critical thinking. The NEA section of the course pushes learners to think about the wider world and their place in it, analysing problems that are important to them and those around them. To be successful in the NEA, learners obviously need good critical thinking skills but also have to develop empathy to those they interact with throughout their projects, something that is important for the rest of their lives.
The problem-solving examination paper requires students to be analytical thinkers, whilst applying their wider specialist knowledge to a range of different types of products and problems. The responses to the questions in this paper ask for the students to be able to construct in-depth valid and balanced evaluations and arguments whilst cross referencing a range of information. The principles paper has a wider range of questions, challenging students to be able to retain a broad spectrum of information. Questions in both papers test the learner’s abilities to create clear and concise technical construction information and their mathematical problem-solving skills.
The most successful learners on this course will fundamentally be problem solvers with a specific interest in this often misunderstood medium. Students will learn a range of construction techniques that will allow them to explore products in a way they have never considered before, be able to come up with unique and out-of-the box solutions for problems that they may have never considered.
The subject allows learners to explore their creativity whilst remaining conscious at all times of the ‘bigger pictures’. Impact to the environment, impact on the user and impact on the wider world. Successful fashion students are not afraid of failure, they embrace mistakes and acknowledge that making mistakes often leads to the most innovative solutions.
Here are some examples of our students’ creative project work:
From catwalk to high street: exploring the environmental implications
It’s a modern wonder how accessible clothing is now. Most people can afford to buy what they want, as frequently as they desire and be wearing it quicker than ever before. But at what cost?
Contributing to 10% of total global carbon emissions, the fashion industry is the second most polluting in the world, coming in behind only the oil and gas industry. There’s lots of information in this BBC article, this report from Oxfam and this analysis from fashion activism movement Fashion Revolution.
By taking A Level Fashion and Textiles, learners have the future of the industry in their hands. How do we keep our much-loved fashion industry afloat whilst not destroying our planet? How do we ensure all fashion products are inclusive? What is the future of one of the most rapidly moving industries in the world? It is not the hands of current industry leaders, the future lies with those who have most at stake, the pioneering minds of young people.
Future opportunities
Studying A Level Fashion and Textiles can lead to a wide range of career and further education opportunities including fashion design, interior design, fashion styling, fashion buying, costume design, pattern development and fashion marketing and management. Some new and emerging industries include fashion technology, 3D printing textiles and sustainability consulting.
And A Level Fashion and Textiles is not just for aspiring designers – it can lead to diverse careers in design, production, business, media, and technology. It’s an excellent foundation for anyone passionate about innovation, craftsmanship, and the fast-evolving world of fashion. .
Conclusion
Overall, studying A Level Fashion and Textiles enables students to develop their creativity, technical ability, and a deep understanding of the broader industry. It's ideal for students who are passionate about design and textiles, enjoy both practical and theoretical work and are eager to develop a career in this dynamic and fast-moving field.
Here’s a final comment from one of my students:
“We are allowed to explore any avenue within the course. We can experiment, which allows us to explore our creativity and learn technical skills which will help us in further education and in careers. The course has that it gives me creative freedom to develop.”
Stay connected
Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any questions, you can email us at d&t@ocr.org.uk, call us on 01223 553998 or follow and tweet us @OCR_DesignTech. You can also sign up for email updates to receive information about resources and support.
If you are considering teaching this qualification, use the expression of interest form to let us know, so we can help you with more information.
About the author
Meghan is a Fashion and Textiles educator with 15 years of experience teaching in comprehensive schools. She has worked with students from year 7 to year 13, helping them develop skills in design, technical construction skills and theoretical knowledge. In addition to her classroom teaching, Meghan is skilled in curriculum planning and has created comprehensive schemes of learning that engage students at all levels.