Module manager: Elaine Evans
Email: E.L.Evans@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module will cover the manufacturing steps that are required to turn textile materials into apparel. You’ll learn about the key factors that affect the garment’s manufacturing cost and quality, and how to best select garment construction specifications to meet specific cost and quality criteria, with particular attention to sustainability criteria. The complex relationship between manufacturing costs and social and environmental considerations will be discussed, including design for disassembly. You’ll also discover emerging technologies that promise to enable improvements in sustainability from the perspective of the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profit).
The module aims to introduce you to the complex production lifecycle of apparel / fashion products and how decision making at each stage of the lifecycle can impact on the performance, durability and cost of fashion products and their environmental and social impact. You will undertake research on and critically analyse key factors in the fashion design and production process and consumer care phase to develop your understanding of the overall impact of fashion products.
The objectives of the module are to:
1) Present examples of the main fashion design and manufacturing processes and how these practices are evolving
2) Enable students to compare the impact of a range of fashion design / production methods and practices
3) Demonstrate the importance of considered decision making throughout the fashion development / production phase
Learning activities include lectures and interactive practical workshops. The lectures will present contextual information about garment manufacturing as detailed above, and practical workshops will allow you to apply your learning in small group activities.
On successful completion of the module you will demonstrate the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. demonstrate foundational knowledge of the design, manufacture and lifecycle of fashion products
2. apply generic and specific garment technology terminology in context by examining the properties and construction of fashion products.
3. evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to problem solving in the fashion industry
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. communicate proficiently in written, oral and visual forms to: present a structured and coherent simple argument; demonstrate basic analytical skills; evaluate qualitative and quantitative data; research relevant information and referencing
5. Apply commercial, ethical, sustainable and interdisciplinary literacies;
6. Demonstrate professional attributes and skills, including problem solving, necessary for success in textile technology contexts
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Practical | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Seminar | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Private study hours | 185 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will have the opportunity for formative feedback on their work as they progress with their journals on technical information, deconstruction / garment manufacturing methods, shop report and analysis etc. This will be the first time that most of the cohort will have encountered garment technology terminology and processes, so the formative feedback session is an opportunity to check knowledge, understanding and presentation of the assigned work. This will allow time for students to complete their journals over Easter, acting on information from the formative feedback session prior to submitting work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Report | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team