Diploma in Fashion Design, Branding & Entrepreneurship
The Diploma in Fashion Design, Branding & Entrepreneurship is a comprehensive, industry-oriented programme designed to equip aspiring designers with the creative, technical, and business skills required to succeed in the modern fashion industry. The programme integrates fashion design (60%), branding (20%), and entrepreneurship (20%), ensuring graduates are not only skilled in garment creation but also capable of building and managing their own fashion brands.
Delivered over 12 months with a flexible modular structure, the programme allows students to develop competencies in fashion illustration, textile studies, pattern making, garment construction, digital design, and trend forecasting, while also gaining practical knowledge in brand development, digital marketing, and fashion business management.
A key feature of this programme is its practice-based learning approach, where students engage in hands-on studio work, industry-relevant projects, and portfolio development. The programme culminates in a final integrated project, where students conceptualise, design, and present their own fashion collection alongside a brand identity and business proposal.
This programme is ideal for individuals seeking to pursue careers as fashion designers, fashion entrepreneurs, stylists, or brand creators, or those planning to progress into higher education in fashion and creative industries.
This programme is designed to:Upon completion of this programme, students will be able to:
· Apply fundamental fashion design principles to create innovative and industry-relevant designs.
· Develop and present fashion illustrations, technical drawings, and finished garments using appropriate tools and techniques.
· Demonstrate knowledge of textiles, materials, and construction methods to produce quality fashion products.
· Analyse fashion trends and consumer needs to inform creative and commercial design decisions.
· Create and communicate a distinct fashion brand identity supported by effective digital marketing strategies.
· Develop a basic fashion business concept, including branding, pricing, and market positioning, to support entrepreneurial ventures.
Programme Structure & Modules
Introduction to Fashion & Creative Thinking
Fundamentals of Fashion Design
Fashion Terminologies
Fashion Seasons & Occasions
Global Fashion Capitals
Introduction to Costume History
Designer Case Studies
Basic sketching & creative exercises
Fashion Illustration & Design Development
Art mediums & colour theory
Object drawing & shading
Fashion figure drawing:
Face (proportion, mood, expression)
Hands, feet, full body
8-head & 10-head figures
Draping & garment rendering
Concept development:
Mood boards
Pattern Making & Garment Construction
Drafting: Torso, skirt, sleeve, trouser
Dart manipulation & block development
Garment Variations: Skirts, sleeves, trousers, collars
Dresses (princess cuts, wrap, complex styles)
Corset / saree jacket
Practical:
Sewing machine training
Full garment construction
Textile Studies & Fabric Innovation
Textile fundamentals
Fabric properties & testing
Fabric Manipulation:
Embroidery, appliqué, quilting
Dyeing (batik, shibori, tie-dye)
Printing (screen, digital, sublimation)
Surface techniques (pleating, smocking, 3D effects)
Technical Drawing & CAD
Flat sketches & technical drawings
Tech pack development
Industry drawing standards
Digital: Adobe Illustrator (flats) and Adobe Photoshop (design rendering)
Fashion Trends & Forecasting
Trend analysis methods
Global fashion forecasting
Consumer behaviour
Fashion Branding & Identity
Brand identity (logo, colour, story)
Brand positioning
Target audience development
Personal branding for designers
Fashion Business, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Development
Introduction to Fashion Marketing & Digital Platforms
Content Creation & Social Media Strategy
Fashion Campaigns & Influencer Marketing
Business Setup & Registration (Sri Lanka Context)
Business Planning, Costing & Pricing
E-Commerce & Website Development
Fashion Photography & Content Creation for Digital Platforms
Fashion Business & Entrepreneurship
Starting a fashion label
Business model canvas
Costing & pricing
Production planning
Supply chain basics
Retail, Merchandising & Styling
Visual merchandising
Fashion retail concepts
Styling principles
Fashion Brand Launch Project
Students will:
Develop a mini fashion collection
Create a brand identity
Prepare a business concept
Payment Plan : Registration Fee 20,000
(Early Bird Offer: Register before 20th April: Registration Fee: Rs. 10,000 Only)
Course Fee : Rs. 15,000 x 12 Installments = Rs. 180,000 - Pay in full and unlock a 10% discount on your course fee.
Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) of 2.5 % would be charged on all above fees.
Commencement : Saturday 6th June 2026
Medium : English
Duration : 1 year
Time : 8.45 am to 1.30 Pm
Location : UNISTEM, Mangala Gardens, Colombo 05