Textiles

Exodus 35:31-32
“He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs and to work in gold, silver and bronze.”

Fashion and Textiles at St. Aidan’s equips students with the creativity, technical ability, and confidence to explore and express ideas through fabric and design.

Rooted in our Christian ethos and the wider school vision of enabling students to live “life in all its fullness,” our curriculum builds progressively from Key Stage 3 to A-Level, fostering independence, critical thinking, and problem-solving. At Key Stage 3, students gain foundational knowledge in textile techniques, sustainability, and design. They develop practical sewing skills and an awareness of how textiles and fashion impacts culture, society, and the environment. At GCSE, they deepen their understanding of design principles, material properties, and commercial processes. They learn to research, design, develop and prototype, linking creative thinking to real-world application. At A-Level, students respond to complex briefs, investigating contemporary issues such as ethical production and innovation in textiles. Across all stages, literacy is embedded through analysis, annotation, and evaluation tasks. Students are assessed holistically, with practical and design-based tasks demonstrating their substantive, disciplinary, and procedural knowledge. Our curriculum prepares students for further study or careers in the creative industries, promoting sustainability, ambition, and self-expression—ensuring they leave with the skills and mindset to positively shape their world. 

Careers within Textiles 

Fashion designer, textile designer, costume designer, pattern cutter, garment technologist, fashion buyer, fashion merchandiser, fabric technologist, wardrobe assistant, interior designer, upholsterer, embroidery designer, print designer, textile technologist, seamstress, tailor, milliner, colourist, design and technology teacher, trend forecaster, visual merchandiser, soft furnishings designer, knitwear designer, surface pattern designer, CAD textile designer, fashion stylist, production assistant, quality control inspector, textile artist, garment production manager. 

Sustainability within Textiles 

In our Textiles programme, sustainability is at the heart of both design and making. Students explore eco-conscious practices such as upcycling, zero-waste pattern cutting, natural dyeing, and using organic or recycled fabrics. We emphasise the environmental impact of fast fashion and encourage thoughtful, slow design that values quality over quantity. From sourcing to construction, students are taught to consider the full lifecycle of a garment or textile product. Creative projects often address real-world issues like waste reduction and ethical production. Our aim is to develop designers who combine innovation with responsibility, shaping a more sustainable future for fashion and textiles.