PORTFOLIO
Overview
Fashion is a cultural form of expression and a social and political discourse that integrates choice, creativity, and ethical responsibility. The fashion industry is currently undergoing significant transformation across design practices, communication strategies, presentation formats, and sustainability models.
Throughout the Fashion Design international certification course, students explore contemporary and emerging trends, analyse garments and accessories, experiment with textiles and materials, and engage in the design, construction, and communication of fashion collections. Creativity is developed through structured design methodologies, while core marketing principles and branding fundamentals are introduced to enable students to effectively promote their work and develop their own fashion brands.
LEARNING METHODOLOGY
The School’s teaching is based on a project-based learning (PBL) approach, delivered in small classes of up to 18 students, ensuring close student-teacher interaction. Students learn by seeking solutions to real-world challenges, often working in teams, fostering their creative, critical, and personal development.
TEACHERS
The teaching staff is composed of active industry professionals, and students are encouraged to participate regularly in workshops, conferences, and study visits to enhance their knowledge and gain exposure to real-world professional environments.
PROGRAMME
This unit focuses on understanding the historical and cultural references of fashion phenomena, connecting essential learning in fashion culture, marketing, and semiotics. It provides historical, social, and cultural context for the 20th century and its relationship with the fashion world.
An introduction to the field of fashion design, developing essential research skills and garment development.
This unit focuses on textile fundamentals from various perspectives, exploring essential knowledge regarding materials, fibers, fabrics, properties, and behaviors. A multidisciplinary approach to textile surfaces introduces manipulation practices such as printing and embroidery techniques.
These units work on creating patterns for garments using professional techniques and equipment, presenting the construction processes for producing clothing.
This unit focuses on studying the market and consumer, giving students the knowledge to understand them and develop strategies for promoting and selling fashion products.
This unit covers the production of digital content for Fashion Design, exploring tools for presentation, communication, and visual storytelling for fashion projects in a digital context.
This unit analyses the role of accessories in the fashion industry, introducing theoretical and practical tools for structuring, designing, and developing projects in this area.
In this unit, students undertake an individual project that applies creative fashion practices in response to a significant contemporary theme. The project integrates research, references, and interdisciplinary approaches within a coherent and professional fashion design process. Trend analysis, design methodologies, production processes, and sustainability principles intersect throughout the development of the project, reflecting current practices within the fashion industry.
This laboratory seeks to unify connections within the community. It is a meeting point and an exchange space dedicated to creativity, where interdisciplinary practices are explored both inside and outside the school environment. Communication is central to this process. The lab aims to identify and mobilize trends, experiment with new ways of thinking and conceptualizing, and facilitate synergies among students—a true learning tool.
ENGLISH
Our courses share content and present challenges with an international perspective. We prepare and support our students based on best practices, regardless of geography or nationality. For this reason, knowing English is a fundamental tool for breaking down barriers: gaining access to more references, discovering more professional contexts, and developing a portfolio in line with the best work being produced, without borders.
This unit involves developing a fashion project focused on collaborative practice. Through teamwork—where each student takes on distinct, coordinated roles—the unit encourages engagement with external communities and professional projects linked to the school. Core guidance on creative processes, collaboration, and team management is provided, enabling students to recognise and develop their individual skills within a collective professional context.
This unit develops students’ skills in constructing 3D models for fashion design, producing prototypes using professional techniques, tools and equipment.
This unit focuses on the development of authorial design as a cultural phenomenon and reflection of society, anticipating new trends. The approach is conceptual.
This unit focuses on the study and experimentation of new textile materials. The method involves research, experimentation, and production of textile samples using different techniques. Virtual design and 3D simulation in a digital environment are also introduced.
This unit focuses on developing a fashion collection, acquiring knowledge of processes and stages of conceptualization, development, and production. The approach is experimental.
This unit prepares students for the transition to the job market or for launching a business. Topics include career structuring, professional promotional content, and portfolio development.
The objective is to prepare students for the project-driven dynamics of the creative industries, encourage teamwork, promote interdisciplinarity, foster a sense of responsibility and goal achievement, and develop personal presentation and self-promotion skills. In this way, the school environment is brought closer to the reality of the professional world and its demands.
CERTIFICATION
At the end of the second year, students receive the Pearson BTEC Level 5 Professional Certification (240 CATS*).
Certification follows the British education system; ETIC is not a higher education institution.
*CATS: Credit Accreditation Transfer System
TEACHING STAFF
BRÍGIDA RIBEIROS
LUÍS SANTOS
Tutor
LUÍS SANTOS
Multidisciplinary creative, teacher, and professional in graphic and fashion design, specialised in visual and digital communication. With training in Advanced Design Studies at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Lisbon, he applies project methodology in his work as a designer and communication consultant, integrating critical and creative approaches.
DORA NOBRE
ISABEL PEDRO
ANA AFONSO MARQUES
LUÍS EMÍLIO
JOANA DUARTE
MARTA CORDEIRO
CAREER PATHS
ETIC is a school equipped with state-of-the-art technology, tailored to meet the specific demands of each area of study and industry:
- Fashion Designer (studio or industry)
- Brand creation and product development
- Fashion communication
- Fashion consultant
- Related areas: costume design, styling, merchandising, buyer, studio management, accessory design, textiles.
ERASMUS+ & INTERNSHIPS
At the end of the programme, and subject to academic performance, students may apply for:
- an international internship through the Erasmus+ Programme;
- a national/international internship or job opportunities for industry placements with partner companies;
Applications are submitted through the Professional Integration Department (estagios@etic.pt).
ETIC provides a digital platform to communicate job offers and employment opportunities from partner companies.
FACILITIES
ETIC is a school equipped with state-of-the-art technology, tailored to meet the specific demands of each area of study and industr
- Fashion studio equipped with industrial machinery;
- Photography studios featuring continuous lighting and electronic flash systems for fashion and product photography.
- Video and multimedia studio equipped with a cyclorama, virtual set system, and motion capture technology.
- Classrooms with individual workstations, including iMacs and PCs, supporting digital production workflows.
- Software: Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
APPLICATION
The programme is delivered in English. Recommended english entry level: B1*
Requirements
– Submit a motivation letter, outlining reasons for applying and professional goals;
– Submit portfolio or showreel;
– Attend an interview.
How do I start my application?
– Fill in the form by clicking the APPLY button.
– You will receive an email with dates options for your interview.
*According to CEFR Levels. If you would like to take a free online test , please click English Test.
TUITION FEES
Several banks offer financing programmes to support training and education: Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Santander, Banco CTT, BPI, among others.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The opening of each course, class or timetable is subject to a minimum number of enrolments. Enrolment in a specific timetable is limited to the number of available places. Teaching is on-campus and project-based. The course programme includes sessions without a tutor, dedicated to the development of independent exercises and project work. Independent and project-based work is essential to students’ learning progress. Tutors may require students to complete assignments outside scheduled class hours.
Occasionally, classes may be scheduled outside the regular timetable, for example to accommodate projects that require greater flexibility, specific equipment needs, real-world exercises developed with partners, or any other reason that supports the effective delivery of the programme.
Specific technical classes and/or workshops may take place on Saturdays.
The duration of each class may vary depending on whether it is theoretical or practical in nature.
Classes may be divided into smaller groups to enhance learning and intensify the development of projects and course content.
The curriculum and teaching staff may be subject to change for pedagogical reasons or due to circumstances beyond the school’s control.
For further information, please contact us.
This course focuses on developing creative and technical skills in fashion design, combining concept development, garment construction, textiles, digital tools and professional practice to prepare students for the contemporary fashion industry.
This Fashion Design programme is designed for aspiring fashion designers and creative professionals who want to develop a strong conceptual, technical and cultural understanding of contemporary fashion. It is aimed at students who seek a practice-based education that combines design thinking, craftsmanship, digital tools and market awareness.
Students develop key skills in:
- Fashion design and creative concept development
- Pattern making and garment construction
- Textile knowledge and material experimentation
- Trend research and fashion analysis
- Fashion marketing and consumer understanding
- Portfolio development and professional presentation
The programme starts with foundational concepts in the first year and progressively advances towards professional level projects. It is suitable for students starting in audiovisual creation as well as those seeking structured professional training.
As an international Fashion Design programme, English is used across all classes; projects and professional activities are set to prepare students for global experience, international collaboration and portfolio presentation for the worldwide industry.
Students can work as fashion designers, consultants, brand developers, fashion communicators or pursue their own fashion projects.
Upon successful completion of the second year, students are awarded a BTEC Higher National Diploma, Level 5, carrying a total of 240 CATS credits*.
ETIC has been a Pearson BTEC Accredited Centre (Business and Technology Education Council) since 2016. The programmes have a duration of two years and are internationally recognised, enabling direct entry into the labour market as well as progression to further studies.
The programmes are assigned a qualification level by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) under the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which forms part of the UK qualifications system.
*CATS: Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme.
