Art and Design

Certificate in Fashion Design and Textile Technology

The Certificate in Fashion Design and Textile Technology provides foundational skills in fashion design, garment construction, and textile technology. Students learn clothing design, pattern making, textile production processes, fabric testing, and quality control in textile manufacturing. The programme is designed for individuals seeking entry-level positions in the fashion industry, textile manufacturing, or garment production enterprises.

Students develop competencies in fashion illustration, pattern drafting, garment construction, textile fibre science, fabric identification, textile testing, and quality assurance. The curriculum covers fashion design fundamentals, sewing and tailoring skills, textile manufacturing processes, dyeing and printing, and basic business skills for the fashion and textile sector. Practical skills in creating garments and working with diverse textile materials are emphasised through studio and laboratory work.

Kenya's textile and apparel sector is a significant contributor to manufacturing and exports, supported by the Export Processing Zones and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The government's push for local textile manufacturing, cotton revival, and value addition in the apparel value chain has created demand for personnel with both fashion design and textile technology skills. The growing local fashion industry also requires practitioners who understand both design aesthetics and textile properties.

The programme combines classroom lectures with studio practice and textile laboratory sessions. Students work on garment construction projects, textile testing exercises, fabric dyeing and printing practicals, and design portfolios. Teaching methods include practical demonstrations, studio work, laboratory experiments, project-based assignments, and industry visits to textile manufacturing facilities.

Graduates find employment as fashion design assistants, garment production assistants, textile quality control assistants, or retail assistants in fashion and textile establishments. The certificate also provides a pathway to diploma programmes in fashion design and textile technology. Some graduates establish small businesses offering fashion design, tailoring, and textile decoration services.

This programme is ideal for KCSE graduates with an interest in fashion and textiles, as well as individuals already working in tailoring or garment production who seek formal qualification. The accessible entry requirements make it suitable for those exploring the fashion and textile industry before committing to diploma or degree-level studies.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 37,320
Private, up to: Ksh 54,000
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: Certificate

What you study

10 subjects

Fashion Design Fundamentals
Pattern Drafting and Garment Construction
Textile Fibre Science
Fabric Identification and Testing
Textile Manufacturing Processes
Dyeing and Printing Techniques
Fashion Illustration
Quality Control in Textiles
Sewing and Tailoring Skills
Fashion Business Basics

Modules

10 in the programme

Fashion Design Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to fashion design principles including design elements, the fashion cycle, the fashion industry in Kenya, and the role of the fashion designer in the textile value chain.
Textile Fibre Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Classification and properties of textile fibres including natural fibres (cotton, wool, silk) and synthetic fibres, covering fibre identification, characteristics, and applications in garment production.
Pattern Drafting and Garment Construction
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Pattern drafting techniques and garment construction skills including measurement taking, basic blocks, pattern adaptation, sewing machine operation, and constructing complete garments.
Sewing and Tailoring Skills
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Practical sewing and tailoring skills covering seam types, finishing techniques, fitting adjustments, and constructing various garment types from casual wear to formal attire.
Textile Manufacturing Processes
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Textile manufacturing processes covering yarn production, weaving, knitting, and non-woven fabric production, with an overview of the textile manufacturing industry in Kenya.
Dyeing and Printing Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Textile dyeing and printing techniques including preparation, dye types, application methods, printing techniques (screen, block, digital), and colour fastness testing.
Fabric Identification and Testing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Fabric identification methods and textile testing procedures including visual inspection, burn tests, microscopy, strength testing, and quality assessment of textile materials.
Quality Control and Fashion Business
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Quality control standards in textile manufacturing, combined with fashion business fundamentals including costing, pricing, sourcing, and starting a fashion or textile business.
Fashion Illustration and Portfolio
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Fashion illustration techniques for communicating design ideas, combined with portfolio development showcasing the student's best design and construction work.
Capstone Garment Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Capstone project requiring students to design and construct a complete garment collection, demonstrating competency in design, pattern drafting, textile selection, and garment construction.

Specialisations

Garment Design and Construction
Focus on clothing design, pattern making, and garment construction for individual clients or small-scale production.
Textile Quality and Production
Focus on textile manufacturing processes, quality control, and fabric testing for the apparel industry.
Textile Decoration and Printing
Focus on fabric dyeing, printing techniques, and surface decoration for fashion and interior applications.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on design theory or textile science with afternoon studio and laboratory sessions. Students practise pattern drafting, garment construction, and textile testing in workshops and labs. Projects include creating garments, testing fabric properties, experimenting with dyeing and printing techniques, and developing design portfolios.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combines fashion design with textile technology, providing a broader skill set for the textile and apparel value chain.
Kenya's EPZ apparel manufacturing and government textile revival initiatives create employment opportunities.
Skills enable entrepreneurship in tailoring, fashion design, and textile decoration with minimal startup capital.

Against it

The textile manufacturing sector in Kenya faces challenges including competition from imported used clothing.
Entry-level positions in garment manufacturing may offer modest compensation.
Career progression to senior design or textile management roles requires diploma or degree-level qualifications.

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

Public37k to 37k

37k at Kirinyaga University37k at Kirinyaga University

Private54k to 54k

54k at Naturesurf Training College54k at Naturesurf Training College

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

Kirinyaga Uni 18.7K/sem=37.3K/yr (nationmedia.com). Naturesurf 18K/term=54K/yr (naturesurf.ac.ke).

HELB loans and NGCDF bursaries are available for eligible Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities.

Funding options

HELB Loan
NGCDF Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in certificate programmes at chartered universities
NGCDF Bursary
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective constituencies pursuing certificate-level studies

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: D+
Alternative entry: Equivalent qualification recognised by Kirinyaga University Senate, or relevant experience in tailoring or garment production.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination20% of the mark
Regular CATs evaluating understanding of textile science, design theory, and manufacturing processes.
Practical Studio and Laboratory Assessment
Practical assessment50% of the mark
Practical assessment of garment construction, pattern drafting, textile testing, and dyeing and printing exercises.
End of Semester Examinations and Project
Project30% of the mark
Final examinations and capstone garment project demonstrating design, construction, and textile selection competencies.

Accreditation

Kirinyaga University is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered under the School of Hospitality and Textile Technology.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Kirinyaga University is chartered by CUE. The programme is offered under the School of Hospitality and Textile Technology.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Fashion Design Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 18,000 to Ksh 50,000
Assists fashion designers in creating collections, preparing patterns, constructing sample garments, and coordinating production activities.
Garment Production Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 15,000 to Ksh 40,000
Works in garment manufacturing establishments, assisting with cutting, sewing, finishing, and quality control in apparel production lines.
Textile Quality Control Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 17,000 to Ksh 45,000
Assists in quality control of textile materials and finished garments, conducting fabric tests, inspecting production output, and ensuring compliance with standards.
Fashion Entrepreneur
High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 120,000
Starts and manages a small fashion or tailoring business, offering custom clothing, alterations, or textile decoration services.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as fashion design assistants, garment production assistants, and textile quality control assistants, with opportunities for entrepreneurship and progression to diploma programmes.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Illustrator (Fashion Illustration)
Software
Canva (Design Presentations)
Software

Certifications

TVET Curriculum Development and Certification Council (TVET CDACC) — Fashion Design and Textile Technology Certification

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fashion design and textile technology is only about making clothes.
The field encompasses textile manufacturing, quality control, fabric science, dyeing and printing, and business management in addition to garment design and construction.
There are no career opportunities in textiles in Kenya.
Kenya's EPZ apparel manufacturing, growing local fashion industry, and government push for textile revival create diverse employment opportunities.
You need to be artistic to study fashion and textile technology.
While creativity is valuable, the programme also teaches technical skills in textile science, quality control, and garment construction that require analytical and practical abilities.
Textile technology is outdated in the digital age.
Textile technology has evolved with digital printing, smart fabrics, sustainable textiles, and automated manufacturing, creating new career opportunities.