Fashion Accessories Design MA

Accessories is one of the fastest-growing sectors in fashion, with a strong global demand for skilled accessory designers. Our Fashion Accessories Design MA addresses contemporary challenges through material innovation and cutting-edge design.Emphasising craftsmanship, techniques, and materials, you’ll engage with practices of ateliers and global design studios across all aspects of accessory design. You’ll develop creative strategies and technical expertise to support leading accessory brands, graduating ready to excel in this dynamic field.The Fashion Accessories Design MA is aimed at entrepreneurial, internationally minded design graduates, preparing you for leadership roles in leather goods, handbags, printed accessories, and more. You’ll be equipped with advanced professional skills in emerging technologies and innovative textile and fashion systems, preparing you for careers in the global fashion industry.A key research focus of the course is the historical and contemporary material culture of accessory design, explored through the Westminster Menswear Archive. This resource will help you contextualise your discipline and inform new approaches to material, construction, and design.You’ll benefit from our strong industry connections and engage with professional development opportunities, including talks, mentoring schemes, external visits, and in-house industry sessions. Opportunities to experience, reflect on, and develop professional practices are embedded in the course to help you develop the skills needed for employment.You’ll develop projects through independent research. and complete the course with a personal portfolio of design work, highlighting your expertise and positioning your work within international accessory design industry.Top reasons to study with usLearn from experts – You'll be taught by experienced staff in both academia and the fashion industry, who specialise in historical and cultural research, materials and fabrication, digital specifications, drawing, sampling, and prototypingStrong connections with industry – Fashion at Westminster has strong internship links. Fashion students at Westminster have gone on to placements with brands such as Asprey, Mulberry, Burberry, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Loewe, Armani and BalenciagaWestminster Menswear Archive – You'll have access to over 2,500 designer menswear items and accessories, enhancing your understanding of material properties and production techniquesOutstanding design facilities – You’ll have access to a dedicated studio, equipped with industrial sewing machines, pattern cutting tables and mannequins.CareersThis course is designed for individuals or graduates, who have significant industry experience and are interested in establishing their own accessories brand. Students will be well positioned to launch their own brand upon successful completion of the course.Fashion at Westminster enjoys strong links with the accessories sector. Whilst this programme is new, students from courses such as Menswear MA MFA and Fashion Business Management MA often find internships and employment opportunities during their studies with us. Our Fashion MA students have gone on to work for Loewe, Puma, Nike, Adidas Balenciaga and Louise Vuitton in both the apparel and accessories field.