OLA 6th Fashion & Textiles
A Level Fashion & Textiles is a two year A level course which is all assessed at the end of the second year. The assessment comprises of three parts; two written exams and one extended design and make project, responding to a design brief, decided by the student.
Awarding body: AQA
Specification code: 7562
Exam Paper 1
Is a two and a half hour exam which assesses the technical principles relating to materials and their applications, performance characteristics of fabrics and modern and commercial production methods. This exam is made up of a mixture of short answer and extended response questions. It carries 120 marks and is worth 30% of the final A Level grade.
Exam Paper 2
Is a one and a half hour paper which assesses the core designing and making principles involved with Fashion and Textiles. This paper explores design theory, responsible design and how technology and cultural changes impact the work of designers. This specification is studied over two full years and all assessments take place at the end of the second year.
The paper is divided into two sections:
Section A – Product analysis: 30 marks Up to 6 short answer questions based on visual stimulus of product(s).
Section B – Commercial manufacture: 50 marks Mixture of short and extended response questions. This exam is made up of short answer and extended response questions. It carries 80 marks and is worth 20% of the final A Level grade.
Non-exam assessment (NEA) – The NEA is student led project which comprises of a written or digital design portfolio and photographic evidence of final prototype. The NEA has three assessment objectives; identify, investigate and outline design possibilities, design and make prototypes that are fit for purpose and analyse and evaluate. The NEA is marked out of 100 and is worth 50% of the final A Level grade.
Who should study Fashion & Textiles?
You should choose Fashion & Textiles if:
• You are interested in creating your own designs, and turning them from 2D ideas to wearable garments.
• You have a desire to go on to be part of a $3 Trillion dollar industry.
• You are interested in trends & current fashions, and would like to shape what people wear in the future.
• Are interested in using computer aided design to communicate your ideas.
• You want to understand where fibres and fabrics come from and how to be a responsible designer
Where can Fashion & Textiles lead?
There are 126 universities in the UK offering Fashion and Textiles based degrees, not all courses are design based. There are courses in Fashion Marketing, Fashion Buying, Fashion Journalism, even specialist Fashion Law courses exist. There are also many different careers in the fashion industry, from Pattern cutting to Stylist, Knitwear designer to Visual Merchandiser, the possibilities are endless.
Preparatory work for studying Textiles in the Sixth Form
Fabric Study:
Collect samples of fabrics. For this you will need an A5 or A6 notebook. Stick one fabric sample onto a page of a notebook and annotate with the:
• Name the fabric (if possible), e.g. cotton twill, silk satin
• Note the fibre(s) origin
• Brief description of how the fabric has been processed, you could sketch of the weave/knit
• Properties of the fabric
• Finishes applied to the fabric
• Cost if possible
• Suggestions for its use
• Comment on appropriate care for the product.
Every time you go to fabric shop, ask if you can take some swatches of various fabrics. Use mobile phones to take a picture of the information displayed on the roll. This should help you when you come to update your swatch book.
Watch Textiles TV:
Keep your eye out for programmes on the television that would aid your wider knowledge. Any topic that is related to textiles, e.g. work of designers, ethical fashion (fair-trade etc.):
•The Alexander McQueen Documentary – Netflix
•Secret world of haute couture – YouTube
•Blood, sweat and t-shirts – YouTube
•Stacey Dooley: Fashion’s Dirty Secrets – You Tube
•The Great British Sewing Bee – BBC2
•The Devil Wears Prada
Join the A Level Textiles – Oxford Page
We have created an A level textiles Facebook group, the membership is small, but growing, and includes what past students are now doing. It is a wonderful medium for sharing information about Textiles. It is a great forum for sharing links and general fashion news. Please ask for details of how to join this page. I would like you all to contribute any websites, ideas, TV programmes, or links etc. that you feel are related to the textiles course.