Art and Design

Diploma in Fashion Design and Garment Making

The Diploma in Fashion Design and Garment Making is a TVET CDACC Level 6 qualification that equips learners with competencies in fashion design, garment construction, pattern making, textile science, and clothing technology.

The curriculum covers sewing machine operations, basic and styled garment construction for ladies, gents, and children, textile material principles, fashion design and sketching, fabric decoration including batik and embroidery, pattern construction and grading, garment cutting, quality control, computer-aided design, fashion accessories, industrial organisation management, and fashion marketing.

The programme is accredited by TVET CDACC under the Fashion Design Level 6 qualification (ISCED code 0212 554 A) and examined by KNEC in some institutions.

Training combines classroom theory with extensive workshop practicals in fully equipped fashion design studios. Trainees work with industrial and domestic sewing machines, overlock machines, cutting tables, and CAD software, producing garments for ladies, gents, and children.

Graduates find employment in clothing and textile industries, fashion houses, export processing zones (EPZ) garment factories, uniform manufacturing companies, retail stores, and government departments.

The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in fashion, design, and creative arts, as well as craft certificate holders seeking to upgrade. It provides a progression pathway to degree programmes in Fashion Design, Textile Technology, or Apparel Design.

Duration: 2-3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 36,000
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: 25 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

Sewing Machine Operations
Garment Construction (Ladies, Gents, Children)
Textile Material Principles
Fashion Design and Sketching
Pattern Construction and Grading
Garment Cutting Principles
Fabric Decoration (Batik, Tie and Dye, Embroidery)
Quality Control Principles
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Industrial Organisation Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Sewing Machine Operations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Operation of industrial and domestic sewing machines, overlock machines for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Basic Garment Construction (Ladies and Gents)
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Construction of basic ladies and gents garments including skirts for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Entrepreneurship and Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 13 creditsElective
Business plan development, communication, ICT, and entrepreneurial skills for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Styled Garments Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced garment construction with styling details, fitting, and finishing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Textile Material Principles
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Properties of textile fibres, fabrics, fabric identification for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Fabric Decoration (Batik, Tie and Dye, Embroidery)
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Decorative techniques including batik, tie and dye, screen printing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Fashion Design and Sketching
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Fashion illustration, design principles, colour theory, and sketching for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Pattern Construction and Grading
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Pattern drafting, pattern adaptation, size grading, and pattern engineering for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Garment Cutting Principles
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Marker making, fabric laying, cutting techniques, and cutting room management for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Organisation Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsElective
Production planning, factory management, and industrial relations in for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Children's Wear and Uniform Wear
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Construction of children's garments and uniform production for schools and for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Quality Control Principles
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Quality inspection, defect identification, quality standards for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Garment Construction and Production
Focuses on advanced garment construction techniques, production line management, and industrial manufacturing, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Fashion Design and Illustration
Focuses on creative design, fashion sketching, CAD, and developing original fashion collections, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Pattern Making and Grading
Focuses on technical pattern engineering, size grading, and computerised pattern making, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Textile and Fabric Decoration
Focuses on textile science, fabric decoration techniques, and surface ornamentation, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

A day as a student

A typical day begins at 8:00 AM with a theory session on textile science or fashion design principles, followed by a three-hour workshop practical constructing garments on industrial sewing machines. Afternoons often involve pattern drafting, fashion sketching, fabric decoration techniques like batik and tie-dye, or CAD sessions for digital design. Industrial attachment places students in garment factories or fashion houses for real production experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Strong self-employment potential through establishing fashion labels, boutiques, or tailoring businesses
Kenya's EPZ garment factories and growing local fashion industry create employment opportunities
Creative and fulfilling career for individuals with passion for design and fashion

Against it

Additional costs for fabrics, sewing tools, and materials beyond tuition fees
Entry-level salaries in the garment industry can be modest, especially in EPZ factories

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

Public67k to 67k

67k at Public TVET colleges67k at Public TVET colleges

Private36k to 36k

36k at AITEC College36k at AITEC 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

TVET 67,189/yr. AITEC 36K/yr (aitec.ac.ke). Private Beacon: unverified.

HELB offers loans and bursaries for TVET students. County government bursaries and NG-CDF funds are widely available. Some garment factories offer sponsorship programmes for students committed to working in the textile industry after graduation.

Funding options

HELB TVET Loan and Bursary
County Government Bursaries
NG-CDF Constituency Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

NG-CDF Bursary
BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan
Constituency-based bursary for needy students
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
All TVET students enrolled in KUCCPS-placed programmes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Craft Certificate in Fashion Design and Garment Making Technology, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNEC.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Internal Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Practical garment construction assessments, design projects, and theory CATs
External Assessment (TVET CDACC)
External60% of the mark
Competency-based external assessment conducted by TVET CDACC
KNEC End-of-Module Examinations
Examination100% of the mark
National examinations at the end of each module (for KNEC variant)

Accreditation

Accredited by TVET CDACC (Fashion Design Level 6, ISCED 0212 554 A) and regulated by TVETA. Some institutions offer a KNEC-examined variant under Fashion Design and Clothing Technology. NITA also offers grade tests in tailoring and dressmaking.

Accredited by

Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council
Curriculum and certificationRequired
Fashion Design Level 6, ISCED code 0212 554 A
Kenya National Examinations Council
Examination
Some institutions offer KNEC-examined variant under Fashion Design and Clothing Technology
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
Institutional regulationRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Fashion Designer
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 55,000
Designs and creates clothing and accessories for fashion houses, boutiques, or personal brands
Garment Technologist
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Ensures garment quality, fit, and construction standards in manufacturing environments
Pattern Maker
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 50,000
Creates and grades patterns for garment production in factories and design houses
Quality Controller
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 45,000
Inspects garments for quality, identifies defects, and ensures production standards are met
Fashion Entrepreneur
High demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 100,000
Establishes and runs a fashion business including design, production, and retail of garments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment in Kenya's growing textile and apparel sector, with opportunities in EPZ factories, fashion houses, and self-employment. Entry-level salaries range from KSH 25,000 to KSH 45,000 per month, with experienced fashion designers and garment technologists earning KSH 50,000 to KSH 100,000+ per month.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Pattern Making Tools
ToolsPrimary
Pattern paper, rulers, curves, and cutting tools for pattern drafting and grading
Industrial Sewing Machine
EquipmentPrimary
Industrial lockstitch, overlock, and coverstitch machines for garment construction
Adobe Illustrator / CorelDRAW
SoftwarePrimary
Digital fashion illustration and design software for creating technical flats and designs
CAD Pattern Software
Software
Computer-aided pattern making and grading software for industrial garment production

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fashion design is only for people who want to be tailors
The diploma covers fashion design, CAD, marketing, quality control, and industrial management, opening pathways to fashion design, merchandising, production management, and brand development careers.
There are no jobs in fashion design in Kenya
Kenya's EPZ garment factories, growing local fashion industry, uniform manufacturing sector, and export market create consistent demand for skilled fashion design graduates. Self-employment is also a viable and popular pathway.