Fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world, second only to oil. As the planet struggles for economic and environmental balance the need for the fashion industry to address and adapt to these demands is becoming essential. The Fashion Design (Sustainable and Ethical) Master's will equip you with the knowledge to become an expert in ethics and sustainability, and begin and exciting career in fashion.

If you are passionate about fashion and driven by your conviction in responsible fashion practice, then we want to hear from you. Applicants of this course will be accepted from a range of disciplines if you can demonstrate an authentic, principled approach to the value of ethical and sustainable fashion . You will work with integrity and vision and possess the ambition necessary to make an impact on the wider world.

Design courses at Northumbria are ranked within the UK top 10, and we are renowned for our pioneering and innovative course frameworks which meet the demands of industry and produce graduates who are ready to step straight into employment.

This is a flexible course, suited to those who wish to further their professional practice with social, critical, technological and ecological dimensions within a self-directed project. There is no requirement that you come from a design background.

This MA Fashion Design (sustainable and ethical fashion) offers students the opportunity to contribute to responsible design systems and practice. We want to see you lead the way with fresh ideas that can truly innovate in the industry.

We will give you the tools to be future leaders, with an in-depth understanding of the economic, environmental, and social factors behind the adoption of circular economy principles, fair trade plus human and animal welfare.

The fashion industry is changing, as pressure mounts for fashion leaders to implement responsible codes of practice. Consumers increasingly expect companies to have responsible principles throughout the supply chain, from protecting their workers with a fair living wage and safe working standards, to the ensuring their products do not end up in land fill.

The programme responds to significant industry, consumer and political demand for graduates who can effectively apply professional knowledge and communication skills to responsible design practice. You will be able to create fashion products with sustainable, social and commercial value.

Our students enjoy coveted access to unrivalled industry links, forged and maintained over six decades, and the opportunities are endless for committed and enthusiastic students. Our global links include fashion companies such as H&M, Tommy Hilfiger and Barbour to name just a few.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with organisations from across the fashion and creative industries, through your project work. This will allow you to build your professional skills, your portfolio, and your network of contacts.

You will also have access to premium, industry facilities which will prepare you for work in industry from the get go. Facilities include a photography studio, machine room, print room and studio space, you can have a closer look in the facilities tab.

We currently have alumnus working across the world for countless global labels and count Scott Henshall , the youngest designer to show at London Fashion Week and Creative Director of luxury British fashion house, Mulberry among our Alumni.

You may also be interested in Fashion Design (Menswear) MA, Fashion Design (Performancewear) MA, Fashion Design MA and Fashion Design (Womenswear) MA

You will study a series of interconnected modules over three semesters. These modules will equip you with the latest theoretical, practical and professional knowledge, skills and applied thinking, primarily through project-based learning experiences.

Approximately two-thirds of your taught sessions will be studio-based, following a ‘learn, explore further and apply’ structure, encouraging you to take risks and to cross traditional boundaries. The modules have been designed to reflect the realities of the design industry and working environments you will encounter on graduation.

During this programme, you will undertake two 30-credit core modules in the postgraduate design framework. Design Thinking (DE7001) and Design Process (DE7002) will provide you with new ways of thinking and approaching global design challenges in the context of your practice. In addition to this, you will also engage in two 30-credit modules within your subject specialism Fashion Product Lifecycle (DE7010) and Responsible Design (DE7011), which will be your opportunity to really master your area of investigation and inspire you to push subject norms and discipline boundaries. To conclude the programme, you will undertake a 60-credit module (Project/Thesis – DE7003) which will act as a consolidation of your learning and give you the opportunity to explore a particular research question of your choosing.  

On top of this you will have access to extensive digital learning resources, including recorded lectures and seminars, assessment feedback, and opportunities to engage in online discussions with your tutors and peers.

One key feature of that runs throughout the Masters is Personal Development Planning (PDP), which you will craft in close collaboration with your tutors. You’ll use your PDP to record what you’ve done and to plan what you want to achieve, enabling you to recognise your development needs and progress towards your unique goals. You will also develop your skills in reflective practice and collaboration, both of which are key to making an impact in the professional world.

Assessed outcomes will be of an original and innovative nature ensuring findings are at the forefront of the discipline and future zeitgeist

You will learn from award-winning, research-active academic staff who bring a wealth of professional experience from the world of fashion to Northumbria. They have worked as successful designers globally for some of the world’s biggest brands including Vivienne Tam, Vivienne Westwood, Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch and Nigel Cabourn.

Our staff have extensive industry experience and engage in world-renowned research to ensure their practice remains contemporary and innovative. You will work with a variety of both academic and technical members of staff here at Northumbria, all of who will help guide you through this journey, ensuring an enjoyable, inspiring and productive experience. The Programme Leader and Modules Tutors will all be accessible and ready to help you reach your full potential.

You will also learn from our collaborative partners from over 60 years of delivering fashion education we have built up industry links that are second-to-none, including Barbour, H&M, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Pentland. Designers are lining up to work on collaborative projects with students on this course, which we’ve developed specifically to respond to industry needs.

Our collaborative work with industry partners creates a space for future thinking, which enhances the curriculum and enables students to graduate into high profile employment both in the UK and internationally

You will learn from award-winning, research-active academic staff who bring a wealth of professional experience from the world of fashion to Northumbria. They have worked as successful designers globally for some of the world’s biggest brands including Vivienne Tam, Vivienne Westwood, Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch and Nigel Cabourn.

Our staff have extensive industry experience and engage in world-renowned research to ensure their practice remains contemporary and innovative. You will work with a variety of both academic and technical members of staff here at Northumbria, all of who will help guide you through this journey, ensuring an enjoyable, inspiring and productive experience. The Programme Leader and Modules Tutors will all be accessible and ready to help you reach your full potential.

You will also learn from our collaborative partners from over 60 years of delivering fashion education we have built up industry links that are second-to-none, including Barbour, H&M, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Pentland. Designers are lining up to work on collaborative projects with students on this course, which we’ve developed specifically to respond to industry needs.

Our collaborative work with industry partners creates a space for future thinking, which enhances the curriculum and enables students to graduate into high profile employment both in the UK and internationally.

Northumbria School of Design has been delivering Fashion education for over 60 years, and the facilities we have invested in are truly exceptional.

As a postgraduate student you will have access to all our state-of-the-art fashion technology. You will work in dedicated studio space where you can take inspiration from postgraduates across all design disciplines.

The MA at Northumbria’s Fashion Laboratory aims to create world-class designers and communicators in fashion, who have a global understanding of technological developments in materials and processes and how these will energise the next phase of Future Fashion Synergies.

Responsible design in either practice or commercial processes evidences a growing need to act in a restorative, regenerative manner beyond the ideology of sustainability. On the course you will have access to a specialist design laboratory to experiment with new processes and understandings for future fashion paradigms. This will support you to understand and reflect on ‘how’ and ‘why’ you design, enabling you to develop greater impact through your professional practice.

By sharing our research expertise in fashion, craft, smart/intelligent materials, sustainability, international development, ethical practice and supply chains, we aim to produce innovative and original designers ready to shape and challenge the future fashion industry.

You will develop research-informed methods of understanding the complexity inherent in real-world situations, to enable you to make better decisions, advance your practice, and add to new knowledge in your field.

You will be inspired by ongoing staff research and industry experience, and you will be aligned to the tutor with the most relevant expertise to support you through your major project.

Your specialism in Sustainable and Ethical Fashion will be underpinned by the generic research-led contextual modules. These will provide you with a grounding in research methods, creative thinking, cross-cultural communication, contemporary influences on design, reflective practice, innovation and entrepreneurship, all through multidisciplinary and team-based collaboration.

You will graduate with the knowledge and expertise required to become a world-class designer, a design change-maker who can inspire and develop products with a high level of integrity and commercial value.

Contemporary design practice is evolving due to new technologies and changing contexts of design innovation. This means there are more opportunities for graduates with advanced masterly understanding of how fashion and industrial design can collaborate in order to respond to future human and planet well-being.

You will hold a critical awareness of current issues, an analytical knowledge of relevant craft skills, processes and technologies, and the entrepreneurial skills to evaluate and commercialise creative opportunities.

You will have the opportunity to collaborate with organisations from across the fashion and creative industries through your project work, allowing you to build your professional skills, your portfolio, and your network of contacts.

Throughout the year, you will have the opportunity to engage in a range of events such as conferences and guest lectures to help further your knowledge and build networks towards your future career aspirations. In addition to working on your personal design projects, you will also have the chance to work on industry-led, collaborative projects within cross-disciplinary teams, reflecting the nature of your future work in the fashion industry.

As well as supporting those seeking to develop independent fashion labels, this course will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities within the fashion and creative industries and in roles as diverse as fashion designer, fashion director, stylist, buyer, account manager, visual merchandiser, fashion editor, industry commentator, or trend forecaster.