Diploma in Fashion Design and Practice

Graduates will have developed current design and production skills, fashion business knowledge, and interpersonal communication skills necessary to contribute to the fashion industry. Graduates will be conversant with New Zealand and International fashion industries and will have knowledge of the relationship between design, production and the distribution process associated with contemporary fashion industry. Graduates will have developed skills to pursue employment opportunities in high end boutique retailers, fashion retailers, fashion designers, fashion manufacturers, fashion buyers, sourcing and supply specialists, pattern drafter, fabric marker and cutter, fashion technician, fashion brand manager/assistant, fashion product manager/assistant, fashion event manager, stylist assistant, sample machinist, machinist, importer for supply companies, wardrobe designer, and fashion software operator. Graduates will have developed skills and knowledge to pursue further academic studies or specialist industry training and development.

Based in Hamilton, the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), is one of the country’s largest institutes of technology. We deliver high-quality education across vocational (technical) and professional fields of study to approximately 13,000 students, across over 130 different courses.

At Wintec students are educated in a way that builds their confidence and gets them work-ready. We differ from other types of tertiary providers in the way students get the chance to put their theoretical learning into practice from the very start. You will get to work on real-life projects based on relevant topics and themes as if you were in the workplace. You will also get involved in work placements. This means that by the time you graduate, you will be confident in your skills and knowledge, and know-how to apply your learnings. Our academic staff have years of industry experience between them, which means they can guide you on your journey.

Wintec maintains collaborative relationships with local industry and iwi to identify the needs of the region and community. Fostering strong networks that our students and graduates benefit from is a high priority for us.  Understanding the needs of local industry, what type of graduates they need now, and what they will need in the future is critical to assisting industry and our graduates.