Are you a creative person who is fascinated by fibers and also fabric? If yarns and prints interest you and you want to take it to the next level, then pursuing a degree in textile designing is a great way.
Textile designing is all about forming a variety of fabrics, which involves the processes of weaving, printing, and adorning the clothes. Textile designing has evolved considerably as an industry, integrating itself into various associated disciplines such as fashion, fine arts, and interior designing.
A textile designing aspirant must specialize in disciplines such as woven textile designing, printed textile designing, or mixed media textile designing. To build a career in the field, you can pursue a course in textile designing which would open doors to a wide range of career opportunities.
Before you embark on your pursuit, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the relevant details on various courses in textile designing, their eligibility criteria, and the admission process. Read ahead to know more about degrees to pursue in the field.
Aspirants looking for a career in textile designing can pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate in textile designing. The undergraduate and postgraduate programs and also diploma courses in textile designing offered by various universities impart essential skills and also the knowledge required in the field.
Some of the eminent and also well-established institutes offering courses in Textile Design can be elucidated below:
National Institute of Design
The Undergraduate course offered by the National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad is known to inculcate innovative and synergistic approaches for Textile Design, by adopting approaches of cultural heritage, socio-economic, and also environmental concerns. The curriculum focuses on building a variety of skills, in unification with theoretical knowledge and practical application. The program also incorporates multiple interdisciplinary projects of designing textiles for Public Spaces/Exhibition/interiors and the Automobile Industry. Graduates are employed in the textile manufacturing industry differentiated by a wide range of materials, products, and also markets. Some graduates go on to become a designer-entrepreneur, having established their own companies in textiles and also fashion.
National Institute of Fashion Technology
The Textile Design curriculum at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (better known as NIFT) offers sufficient possibilities for students to innovate, experiment, and also create with materials. The program builds upon the blend of creative forces of design with textile technology and also maintains the historical, social, and cultural circumstances in which the designers work today. Additionally, there is also an emphasis on learning specialized software to explore technology-driven and non-traditional approaches to design, fabric structures, and surfaces. The Textile Design students engage in a Graduation Project in their final year in collaboration with textile mills, export houses, home, and also apparel retail brands, designers, or even NGOs.
Leading Textile Designing Institutes Across the World
- Fashion school of luxury and Design, Paris
- Central Saint Martins, London
- Bunka fashion college, Tokyo
- Parsons, The New school for Design, New York
- Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium
- Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
Undergraduate Textile Designing Courses
Various renowned textile and also apparel designing institutes in India and abroad offer a 3-year or a 4-year degree in textile designing. The table below gives you the list of undergraduate courses offered in the field of textile designing.
| Degree | Duration | Eligibility |
| Bachelor of Arts ( BA) in Textile Designing | 3 years | Class XII Passed (in any stream) |
| Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Textile Designing | 3 years | Class XII Passed (in Science stream) |
| Bachelor of Design ( B.Des.) in Textile Designing | 3 years | Class XII Passed (in any stream) |
| Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Fashion and also Textile Designing | 3 years | Class XII Passed (in Science stream) |
| Bachelor of Design ( B.Des.) in Fashion | 4 years | Class XII Passed (in any stream) |
| BTech / B.E in Textile designing | 4 years | Class XII Passed (in Science stream) |
| BTech in Textile Technology | 4 years | Class XII Passed (in Science stream) |
Admission Process
To pursue an undergraduate program in textile designing, the candidate must have cleared the qualifying 10 +2 exam. The minimum marks required differ in different institutes from 50% to 55 % or equivalent CGPA. While admission into most reputed institutes happens based on the scores in the entrance exams, entry is also made based on the candidate’s scores in the qualifying exams.
Postgraduate Degrees in Textile Designing
| Degree | Duration |
| MA in Textile Designing | 2 years |
| M.Sc. Textile Designing | 2-3 years |
| M.Sc. Clothing and Textile | 2 years |
| MDES textile design | 2 years |
| Master of Fine Arts in Textile Design | 2 years |
| M-TEch textile technology | 2 years |
| M-TEch textile Engineering | 2 years |
* Eligibility criteria differ in different universities.
Admission Process
Students aspiring for a postgraduation in textile designing must secure a minimum of 50-55% in the UG program. Some colleges conduct entrance tests and also admit students based on the scores in the entrance tests. Personal Interviews and Group discussions are held, and also admission happens based on merit.
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Textile Designing Entrance Tests
Colleges consider the scores of the following entrance tests to admit students into undergraduate and postgraduate programs in design. Colleges may conduct their entrance tests also.
- All India Entrance Examination for Design ( AIEED)
- Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED)
- National Institute of Design- Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT)
- National Council for Interior Design Entrance Exam
- National-level Entrance Aptitude Test (NLAT)
- NIFT Entrance Exam
- Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)
- GATE ( Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering ) score is considered for postgraduate engineering admissions ( MTech).
Textile Designing Diplomas
Apart from the undergraduate and also postgraduate courses in textile designing, there are several diploma courses in the field, for 1- 2 years. A few of these courses are listed below.
- Diploma in Textile Design
- Advanced Diploma in Textile Design
- Fashion, Textile and Apparel Design
- Diploma in Apparel Quality Assurance and Compliance
- Diploma in Apparel Manufacturing
- Apparel Manufacturing Technology and Systems (AAMTS)
- Diploma in Fashion Design
- Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design
- Diploma in Pattern Making and CAD
To be eligible to pursue these diploma courses, the candidate must have passed the 10+2 exam, with at least 40-50% marks.
Essential Qualities Required to Become a Textile Designer
To have a successful career in the textile designing industry, you will need plenty of initiative and also perseverance. Be it the core industry or a high-end design studio, spending time increasing your professional network can be as valuable as doing textile design courses.
There are two major areas in textile design. They are:
- Interiors (upholstery, soft furnishings, and also carpets)
- Fabrics for clothing (fashion or specialist)
Career Prospects in Textile Designing
Ample opportunities await an aspirant upon completion of a degree or a diploma in textile designing. Students with a degree in textile designing can put their expertise to use in the following job roles.
- Fashion stylists/ designers
- Colour technologists/ specialists
- Clothing technologists
- Knitwear designers
- Fabric analyst
- Embroidery designer
- Fabric resource manager
- Design consultants
- Interior and also Spatial Designer
Apart from these roles, textile designers find their prospects in Garment/ fabric export industries, branded garment showrooms, film/television industry, boutiques, and also textile manufacturing units among many other areas.
Designers who have gone on to earn their master’s degree in textile design can quickly move out of entry-level positions and also into management. A few career choices include:
- Textiles production manager
- Quality assurance manager of textiles
- Research and also development analyst
- The textile supply chain manager
- Textile marketing manager
Textile design is a competitive field, so a good education and building a professional portfolio, as well as a stellar reputation is required.
Work Description of Textile Designers
- Develop printed, knitted, and woven fabrics using traditional and also computer technology
- Develop and plan the appearance and also structure of natural and man-made fibers according to their ultimate use
- Be up to date with the latest and developing trends in clothing and fabric and also technologies in textile designing
- Coordinate with clients, staff members, and other network partners to plan and also create designs
- Develop innovative sample designs for clients
- Visiting places and also other sources of ideas for design
- Obtain fabrics and also other materials from different sources
Conclusion
Pursuing the right degree will take you a long way in your career. Textile designing is an evergreen industry, choosing the right course from the right institute will lead you to a booming textile designing career.