Diploma in Fashion Designing Syllabus and Subjects 2025 blends creativity with practical skills, covering subjects like fashion illustration, garment construction, pattern making, textiles, and computer-aided design (CAD). Students also study fashion marketing, fabric science, and draping techniques. The curriculum emphasises hands-on learning through workshops, design projects, and industry-based assignments. Whether it’s understanding global fashion trends or mastering digital tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, the course equips students for roles in fashion design, styling, merchandising, and apparel production. This diploma serves as a strong foundation for aspiring designers seeking to enter the dynamic world of fashion.
Diploma in Fashion Designing syllabus & subjects 2025 may differ slightly from one university to another based on the curriculum adopted. It is designed to impart to students the necessary knowledge and skills required to fulfil the Fashion industry's ever-demanding needs. As it is a highly demanding sector, the Diploma in Fashion Designing course curriculum acquaints students with basic knowledge related to photography, product development, pattern making, modelling, technology, draping, textile science, merchandising, etc.
The list of some important Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects includes Principles of Fashion Design, Textile Fibres, History of Fashion Design, Creating a Clothing Brand, and more. Moreover, the core subjects for the Diploma in Fashion Designing course cover topics like Fashion Illustration, Elements of Fashion and Design, Computer-Aided Designing, and more. Furthermore, the course structure includes practical work, projects, workshops, etc. In addition to clothing and designs, the Diploma in Fashion Design syllabus and subjects cover topics such as accessories, footwear, and jewellery, among other things. It will assist students in carving out a special place for themselves in a constantly evolving industry. This page discusses the exhaustive list of Diploma in Fashion Design subjects along with the respective topics covered.
The Diploma in Fashion Designing prepares aspiring designers for careers in fashion, merchandising, and brand creation. Here’s an overview of the course.
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Course Name | Diploma in Fashion Designing |
Course Level | Undergraduate Diploma |
Duration | 1 to 2 Years (Varies by institute) |
Eligibility | 10th or 12th pass from a recognised board |
Admission Process | Merit-based or Institute-level Entrance Exams |
Popular Entrance Exam (if any) | LISAA CAT (Creative Aptitude Test), Institute-specific tests |
Course Mode | Full-Time / Distance / Online |
Core Subjects | Fashion Illustration, Textile Fibres, Pattern Making, Garment Construction |
Elective/Advanced Topics | Fashion Marketing, Brand Creation, Merchandising, Quality Control |
Practical Components | Lab Sessions, Project Work, Internships, Portfolio Development |
Common Tools & Software | Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW |
Distance Learning Option | Available in selected institutions |
Project Work Topics | Apparel Designing, Fashion Promotion, Local Artisan Projects |
Top Reference Books | Patternmaking for Fashion Design by H.G. Armstrong, Textiles by Corbman |
Career Opportunities | Fashion Designer, Pattern Maker, Fashion Illustrator, Stylist, Entrepreneur |
Average Course Fee (INR) | INR 30,000 – INR 2,00,000 depending on the institute |
Following the general semester-based syllabus pattern, the Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects of this course is offered over two semesters. Through the syllabus of this course, the knowledge of individual creativity and the fashion design market is provided to the students. The following table will provide an idea of the syllabus of the above-mentioned course:
Semester 1 | |
---|---|
Fashion Designing | Fashion Accessory |
Textile Science | Fashion Merchandising and Management |
Pattern Making Garment | |
Semester 2 | |
Fashion Illustration | Fashion Marketing and Management |
Product Specification | Computer-Aided Design |
Fashion Ornamentation |
Also Read: Diploma in Fashion Designing Admissions
The year-wise course curriculum of the Advanced Diploma in Fashion Designing is provided below:
First Year Syllabus | |
---|---|
Introduction to Computers & Elementary Mathematics | Basic of Fashion & Principles of Design |
Element of Textile Science - I | Practical 1- Fashion Illustration - I |
Element of Textile Science - II | Practical 2- Garment Construction - I |
Introduction to Computers & Elementary Mathematics | |
Second Year Syllabus | |
History of Costume | Basics of Quality Control |
Finishing and Care | Practical 1 – Pattern Making 1, Pattern Making 2 |
Product Development and Fashion Promotion | Practical II- Computer-Aided Design |
Fashion Marketing and Merchandising |
Also Read: Top Fashion Designing Colleges in Delhi 2025
A Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects provides fundamental knowledge of fashion-design-related concepts. A good range of subjects is taught under its course curriculum. Different universities teach different subjects. But, the concept almost remains the same. All the Diploma in Fashion Designing course subjects in the curriculum come under core papers.
The Diploma in Fashion Designing syllabus introduces the course topics under certain course codes and titles of papers. Listed below are the topics covered through the subjects and syllabus of the Diploma in Fashion Designing:
Papers | Topics |
---|---|
Fashion General Knowledge | Fashion Barriers, Identifying Fashion, The fashion Industry, Western Fashion, Ancient Indian Period Fashion, Post 16th Century Fashion |
Basic Designing and Sketching | Material of drawing, Colour, Sketching, Basic Garment Drawing, Basics of Figure Garments, Basics of Garment Drawing etc. |
Surface Ornamentation | Introduction to Surface Ornamentation and Embroidery, Basics of Print Design, Different types of Stitches etc. |
History of Fashion Design | 19th, 20th, and 21st Century Fashion and their Influences |
Design Ideas | Fashion Influences, Design Inspiration, Design for Basics, Elements of Garment Design, Embroidery etc. |
Drafting and Pattern Lay Out | Advanced Pattern Lay Out |
Costume Design and Fabrication | Basic Stitching, Finishing, Classification of Fibres, Care of fabrics, Traditional fabrics. |
Fabric Sourcing | Different Styles of Pattern Making, Sizing, Grading and Measurements, Material and Contractors Sourcing |
Making a Clothing Brand | Financing a Clothing Brand, Making Business and Marketing Plans etc. |
Textile Fibers | Understanding Textile Fibres, Fibre groups, Fibre Properties, Basic Technique, Fabric Construction, and its Process, Yarns & Fabrics, Fibre Groups & their Properties |
Garment Structure & Pre-Production | Garment Support, Garment Structure, Preparing to Produce Business Line |
Project Work | Industry-Related topics |
Also Read: Waves Institute of Fashion Designing - Admission 2025, Fees, Courses, Placement, Ranking
Core subjects form the essential academic foundation of the Fashion Design course and are mandatory for all students, regardless of their specialisation. These subjects provide the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary in the fashion industry. Below are some widely taught core subjects in the Fashion Designing syllabus.
Core Subject | Description |
---|---|
Fashion Illustration and Design | Focuses on sketching garments, figures, and styles used in the fashion industry. |
Fashion and Art Design | Explores the relationship between fashion and visual arts, emphasising creativity. |
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) | Teaches digital tools and software for creating fashion designs and patterns. |
Fashion Ornamentation | Covers decorative techniques like embroidery, appliqué, and embellishments. |
Fashion Marketing | Introduces branding, promotion, and retail strategies within the fashion sector. |
Also Read: School Of Fashion Designing - Admission 2025, Fees, Courses, Placement, Ranking
Elective subjects allow Fashion Design students to explore areas of personal interest or enhance their academic performance. These optional courses provide flexibility in the curriculum, enabling students to gain specialised knowledge beyond the core syllabus. Below are some commonly offered elective subjects in Fashion Design.
Being a practical-oriented course, the Diploma in Fashion Designing syllabus includes different lab-based or practical-based subjects. These Diploma in Fashion Designing lab subjects are introduced along with the core papers. The purpose is to share the corresponding practical ideas on the theory papers. By gaining knowledge through the practical/ lab subjects, students gain clear concepts of how the design works are executed in the real world.
In the practical classes of Diploma in Fashion Designing, students are guided in drafting the patterns, drawing lines and strokes, designing sketches for men’s and women’s garments, portfolio making, etc. Apart from that, hands-on learning on computer applications used in the field of fashion design is also taught through the related lab-based Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects. Listed below are a few of the commonly studied lab subjects included in the curriculum:
· Fashion Designing and Illustration
· Garment Construction
· Computer Applications in Fashion Designing
· Industry Project Works
In the Diploma in Fashion Designing course, practical training is also covered through the project works. These subjects are introduced to provide extensive practical learning opportunities to the students. The learning from these projects forms a strong base for further studies.
Apparel and Furnishings, Synthetic Textiles, and Local Artisans are a few of the project topics covered in the Diploma in Fashion Designing syllabus. The practical subjects and the project work altogether to build up the required ability in the students to produce excellent designs and garments.
The diploma in Fashion Designing admission process can be both merit-based and entrance-based. Few universities require students to take entrance exams like the NIFT Entrance Exam, NID Design Aptitude Test, UCEED, and Pearl Academy Entrance Exam. The syllabus of the entrance exams in Interior Design includes:
There are numerous fashion design subjects that can be covered in the books of Diploma in Fashion Designing. A thorough understanding of the Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects is required to complete the course successfully. There are lots of concepts and ideas in the fashion industry that are not teachable. These concepts can be directly studied from Fashion Design Books.
The Fashion Design education sector is flooded with books for Diploma in Fashion Designing. Now, it is the responsibility of the learners to select the books according to the context. Some of the popular reference books that can be studied are listed below:
Books | Authors |
---|---|
Textiles: Fiber to Fabric | Bernard P. Corbman |
Textile Science | E.P.G. Gohl & L.D.Vilensky |
Technology of Textile Processing | Shenai V.A. |
Design Concepts | Jane Mills and Janet K.Smith |
Pattern Making for Fashion Design | H.G. Armstrong |
Apparel Manufacturers Handbook | Jacob Solinger |
Metric Pattern Cutting | Winifred Aldrich |
Decorative Painting Techniques Book | Val Holmes |
Patternmaking for Fashion | Pearson |
Textbook of Fabric Science: Fundamentals to Finishing | Seema Sekhri |
Start-Up Your Fashion Label | Aarthi Gunnupuri |
5000 Designs and Motifs from India | Ajit Mookerjee |
Fashion Sketch Book | Bina Abling |
Fashion Design Illustrator | Patric John Ireland |
Draw like the Masters | Berrington Barber |
Also Read: Diploma in Fashion Designing Career Opportunities
Diploma in Fashion Designing course structure is formulated in such a way that the students get maximum learning through it. The course structure of this program includes a syllabus that is a unique blend of core and practical Diploma in Fashion Designing course subjects. In some Fashion Design Institutes, the Diploma in Fashion Designing course syllabus also has internships as an integral part of the curriculum. While the Diploma in Fashion Designing course syllabus explains all the significant concepts, the internships ingrain the acquired learning by providing in-field training to the students.
The teaching methodology adopted by most of the educational institutes in Diploma in Fashion Designing course syllabus are course-friendly. Whatever structure is followed for the course, the institutes ensure it is time and age-appropriate. The general course structure of the Diploma in Fashion Designing is as follows:
· Year Wise/Semester Wise Syllabus
· Core Papers
· Practical Training
· Projects
· Internships
The best reference books to study Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects are The Little Dictionary of Fashion (A Guide to Dressing Sense for Every Woman) by author Christian Dior, The Fashion Designer Survival Guide by author Mary Gehlhar, The End of Fashion by author Teri Agins, Fashion Sketchbook by author Bina Abling, and more.
Some of the best Diploma in Fashion Designing project topics include the following:
Different types of methodologies and techniques are used to teach Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects that help students gain an in-depth understanding of the subjects at hand. The following are some teaching strategies followed:
The Diploma in Fashion Designing syllabus include topics such as Creating a Clothing Brand, Design Development & Sketching, Fabric Sourcing, Pattern Making, Sizing & Measurement, Garment Structure & Pre-Production, History of Fashion Design, Introduction to Fashion Design, Pattern Completion & Garment Construction, Principles of Fashion Design, Project Work & Assessment, Textile Fibres, and more.
The Diploma in Fashion Designing course curriculum consists of, among other things, assignments, classroom instruction, project work, industry training, and interactions with prominent industry figures. All of these elements aid candidates in gaining the knowledge and abilities required to pursue a career in the fashion industry. Its goal is to offer students a thorough comprehension of the subject at hand.
The core Diploma in Fashion Designing subjects are Computer-Aided Designing, Elements of Fashion and Design, Fashion Illustration, Fashion Management and Merchandising, Fashion Marketing, Pattern Making and Garment Construction, and more.