Study Fashion
or Costume Design

Why study Fashion or Costume Design?

Offered in collaboration with TAFE SA, these degrees will kick-start your career in these exciting fields. Fashion, Industrial and Jewellery Designers are in demand across Australia, with $1,500 being the median weekly earnings for those roles.*

_{*Jobs and Skills Australia 2024}

Fashion

Imagine being the one who decides whether it’s zebra or leopard print this year. If you dream of your designs on the catwalks in Paris and Milan, or creating trends for people all over the world, then this trillion-dollar industry could be the career for you.

Fashion careers

There’s more to fashion than being a designer. You could also work as a fashion buyer, creative director, stylist, merchandiser or trend forecaster, to name a few. You’ll spend your days researching and forecasting future trends, working closely with executives, marketing managers and other designers, and creating new products.

Studying Fashion can turn into a career as a fashion designer, product developer, garment technician, production assistant or fashion design assistant - just to name a few.

Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion)

Costume Design

Think about your favourite character in a movie you love. What do they wear? What do they look like? Iconic characters have iconic looks, and with a career as a costume designer, you’ll be in charge of creating those looks and bringing characters to life.

Costume Design careers

You’ll be responsible for designing and creating costumes for characters in films, plays or on stage. You won’t be limited to just clothes, you’ll also strategically think about props, accessories and other character essentials.

You’ll fuse your creative and technical skills working for major stage productions, movie studios, entertainment companies and more.

A degree in Costume Design could open up the door to several careers such as a costume designer, costume buyer, costume maker, wardrobe manager or costume technician.

Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design)

Ranked No.1 in SA
in Creative Arts for full-time employment, student support and teaching quality.

^{The Good Universities Guide 2024 (undergraduate), public SA-founded universities only}

Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion)

Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design)

“

My fashion degree was invaluable in preparing me for my role at ARA Experience. It equipped me with essential practical skills, covering everything from patternmaking and sewing, to marketing and business strategies.

Penny Lim, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion) graduate & Designer/Co-Founder at ARA Experience

”

Why study Fashion or Costume Design at Flinders?

Be mentored by practising creative artists
Work on real-life shows and gain experience in production settings
Access dedicated costume design and fashion workshops
Learn about computer-aided design technologies that contribute to design, production and marketing processes
Get a taste of real-life collaboration in the industry

“

Going on a study tour to America was a real highlight of my studies. I was lucky enough to go to New York and Los Angeles as part of the tour and learn about theatre and film costuming.

One particular stand-out moment was going to a quick-change workshop run by a real Broadway dresser. We were told all about the little costume secrets that help run a show. In this workshop we were also lucky enough to meet the Wicked Elphaba understudy... we were like kids in a candy store!

Alex Stephens, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design) graduate

”

Teaching staff

Our incredible teaching and research staff within the fashion and costume design sectors are experts in their professions and well-connected to industry.

Helen Jansson

"While Fashion industry processes remain intrinsically the same as they have been for many years, the change on how Fashion is perceived by wearers and viewers continues to change and morph over time, always presenting new and exciting challenges and directions."

After completing her Bachelor of Fashion (Honours), Helen worked in the fashion industry in Melbourne for 15 years. Her final role before moving to SA was the Creative Director of Davenport Industries.

With a portfolio of epic projects such as a fashion parade in a Boeing 747 as it circled Sydney for the launch of Virgin Underwear, Helen began teaching at TAFE SA in 2005 and became the Principal Lecturer in 2011.

Here she was instrumental to the development of the unique Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design) and the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion).

Helen wants students to realise how broad and multi-layered the fashion and costume industries are, "There are so many opportunities for employment in Adelaide in both areas and the potential is growing year after year.

"Not only does SA have some of the biggest fashion and clothing houses in Australia, the theatre, film and festival scene is alive and well."