Art and Design

Bachelor of Arts (Textile, Fashion Design and Merchandising with IT)

The Bachelor of Arts in Textile, Fashion Design and Merchandising with IT is a four-year programme that combines creative design skills with technical textile knowledge and business acumen. Students learn textile science, fashion design, apparel production, fashion merchandising and information technology applications for the fashion industry. The programme prepares graduates for diverse careers in Kenya's growing textile and fashion sector.

Students develop competencies in fashion illustration, pattern making, garment construction, textile design, fashion merchandising, quality control and CAD for fashion. They learn to create original designs, manage apparel production processes, develop fashion brands and apply IT tools for design, marketing and supply chain management. The programme emphasises both creative expression and commercial viability.

In Kenya, the textile and fashion industry is experiencing growth driven by the government's push for local textile manufacturing, the expansion of the cotton value chain and increasing demand for African-inspired fashion globally. The AGOA trade preference provides export opportunities for Kenyan apparel. Graduates find opportunities in fashion houses, textile mills, retail chains, export processing zones and as entrepreneurs launching their own brands.

Teaching is delivered through design studios, practical workshops, IT laboratories, industrial attachment and fashion shows. Students create portfolios, produce garment collections and participate in industry exhibitions. The programme includes hands-on training in design software, textile testing labs and production workshops.

Graduates pursue careers as fashion designers, textile designers, fashion merchandisers, quality controllers, apparel production managers and fashion entrepreneurs. Some work in export processing zones, textile mills or retail organisations. Others establish independent fashion labels or work as freelance designers.

This programme is ideal for individuals with creative talent, interest in fashion and textiles, and aptitude for business. Students who enjoy design, hands-on making and want to combine creativity with commercial skills will find this programme particularly engaging.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,400
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Textile Science and Fabric Studies
Fashion Design and Illustration
Pattern Making and Garment Construction
Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for Fashion
Apparel Production Management
Textile Design and Printing
Fashion Portfolio Development
Quality Control in Textiles
Fashion Business and Entrepreneurship

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Textile Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of textile fibres, yarns, fabrics and their properties, including natural and synthetic materials
Fashion Design and Illustration I
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fundamental techniques of fashion drawing, illustration and design concept development
Computer Applications for Fashion
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
IT skills for the fashion industry including design software, digital portfolios and e-commerce platforms
Pattern Making and Garment Construction I
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Techniques for creating patterns and constructing garments from basic to intermediate level
Textile Design and Printing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Methods of textile surface design including printing, dyeing and decorative techniques
Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles of fashion retail, merchandising, brand management and consumer behaviour
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for Fashion
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Digital design tools for fashion illustration, pattern making and textile design using industry software
Apparel Production Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Management of apparel manufacturing processes, including production planning, costing and quality control
Fashion Portfolio Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Creation of a professional fashion design portfolio showcasing creative and technical competencies
Quality Control in Textiles
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Testing and quality assurance methods for textile products, including KEBS standards and international specifications
Fashion Business and Entrepreneurship
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Business planning, brand development and entrepreneurial strategies for the fashion industry
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a fashion house, textile mill, retail chain or EPZ garment factory

Specialisations

Fashion Design
Specialization in Fashion Design, preparing graduates for careers such as fashion-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Textile Design
Specialization in Textile Design, preparing graduates for careers such as fashion-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Fashion Merchandising
Specialization in Fashion Merchandising, preparing graduates for careers such as fashion-merchandiser.
Fashion Entrepreneurship
Specialization in Fashion Entrepreneurship, preparing graduates for careers such as fashion-designer.
Apparel Production
Specialization in Apparel Production, preparing graduates for careers such as fashion-merchandiser. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Costume Design
Specialization in Costume Design, preparing graduates for careers such as costume-designer. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on textile science or fashion theory with afternoon studio sessions creating designs, drafting patterns or constructing garments. Students may work in CAD labs designing digital fashion illustrations, test fabrics in the textile lab or prepare collections for fashion shows.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's textile sector is growing with AGOA exports and local manufacturing push
IT skills give graduates an edge in digital fashion design and e-commerce
Creative and fulfilling career with opportunities for self-employment
Diverse career paths from design to production to merchandising

Against it

Fashion careers can be competitive with irregular income for freelancers
Starting a fashion business requires capital investment and market knowledge
Textile manufacturing jobs may involve factory environment work
Fashion trends change rapidly, requiring continuous learning and adaptation

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public204k to 204k

204k at Kenyatta University204k at Kenyatta University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU Fashion Design 204,400/yr (mawese 2025). Private unverified.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some textile companies offer industrial attachment stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English/Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+
Home Science or Art and Design (advantageous)
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Studio Projects and Portfolio
Coursework40% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework35% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework25% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Textile Designer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Designs fabric patterns and textile products for manufacturers and fashion brands
Quality Control Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 100,000
Inspects and tests textile products to ensure compliance with quality standards and specifications
Fashion Merchandiser
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages product selection, pricing and display for fashion retail operations
Fashion Designer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Creates original clothing designs for fashion houses, retail brands or personal fashion labels
Apparel Production Supervisor
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 110,000
Supervises garment production processes in textile factories and EPZ garment units

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as fashion designers, textile designers, fashion merchandisers and apparel production managers in fashion houses, textile mills, retail chains and export processing zones.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Illustrator
SoftwarePrimary
Industry-standard vector graphics software for logo design, illustration, typography, and brand identity development used by professional graphic designers.
Adobe Photoshop
SoftwarePrimary
Image editing and manipulation software for photo retouching, digital art, graphic design, and visual content creation for print and digital media.
AutoCAD
SoftwarePrimary
Computer-aided design software for 2D and 3D drafting, essential for interior design, architectural drawing, and technical design documentation.
Figma
Software
Collaborative interface design tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and digital product design used by digital design professionals and teams.
Blender
Software
Open-source 3D modelling, animation, and rendering software for product visualisation, 3D design, and digital prototyping.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fashion design is just about making clothes
The programme covers textile science, merchandising, production management, CAD and entrepreneurship, not just garment construction.
There are no career opportunities in Kenya's fashion industry
Kenya's textile sector is growing with AGOA exports, local manufacturing initiatives and increasing global demand for African fashion.
Fashion is not a serious academic subject
The programme combines science, technology, business and creative arts, requiring diverse skills and knowledge.
You need to be a great artist to study fashion design
The programme teaches design skills systematically, and CAD tools help students develop professional design capabilities.