Fashion and Textiles Portfolio Guidance
When applying to many of our Fashion and Textiles courses, you will be asked to provide a digital portfolio. This is an opportunity to show us who you are, your artistic ability and your potential.
This page provides a detailed insight into how to prepare the best possible portfolio for your course.
Portfolio submission deadlines
You will be asked to submit a digital portfolio to us within 28 days of receiving your invitation to submit a portfolio review. We know that you may be applying to us relatively early in the academic year, while you are still building an updated portfolio, so please note that we are happy for you to submit the following: GCSE work (for undergraduate programmes); work from the previous year; work in progress, such as sketches of ideas; and photos of your work.
Which courses require a portfolio?
You will be asked to submit a digital portfolio if you are applying to the following courses:
- BA Fashion Design
- BA Textile Design
- BA Fashion Communication
- MA Fashion and Textile Design
- MSc Sportswear Design
Please note: If you are applying for a postgraduate course and you have an undergraduate degree from Birmingham City University in a closely related discipline, you may be exempt from providing a portfolio.
For detailed guidance, select your course from the dropdown below.
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BA Fashion Design
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Content
- Include work relevant to your chosen course, also showing us who you are as a creative practitioner. Include ideas generation, experimentation and development as well as a cross-section of ideas to evidence your creative interests.
- Show examples of drawings. For fashion design: these should include fashion sketches, life drawings and observational drawings. For textiles: examples include sketches, observational drawings, collages and paintings. For both: you can also include textile sampling, photographs, print ideas, three-dimensional work, garments and anything else relevant to the area of creative practice.
- Take photos of 3D pieces you wish to include. Please ensure they are clear and show a sense of scale, texture, material, colour and context.
- Try to show one full project from start to finish with the preparatory drawings included. Annotations are helpful as they show how you research and reflect on the development of your work.
- Include one to three final pieces that you are able to talk about. This might include garments, interior pieces or artistic statements.
- Include content from your sketchbook/s, as this will give us an understanding of how you think and allow us to see the development of your drawing/design development.
- There is no set way to order your portfolio, but we would advise that you arrange it in an orderly way. For example, you may find it useful to cluster your portfolio into projects, or put it in a chronological order, or start and finish with your best pieces.
- If you are presenting your portfolio in an unusual way, keep it clear and clean.
Skills we would like to see
- Skills in relation to colour and materials.
- Drawing.
- Composition.
- Individuality.
- Use of a visible design process for idea development.
- Willingness to experiment using a range of media, fabrics and technology.
- A passion for your chosen subject.
- For fashion only: evidence of an understanding and love of text as you will be working with books, scripts and poetry on the course.
Format for digital portfolios
You have the option to submit your digital portfolio in PDF, PowerPoint or video format.
If submitting a PDF or PowerPoint file:
- Submit your work as one PDF or PowerPoint file, no more than 10MB in size. Please compress your file if it exceeds the limit.
- Ensure your work has a good screen resolution.
- You can include links to video, animations, and moving image work within your file if you wish. Please check that these links work before you submit your portfolio and that they can be accessed easily. We will not be able to view links that require a password.
If submitting a video file:
- Please copy and paste a link to YouTube or Vimeo into a document (Word or PDF) and upload this to the MySRS portal. If using YouTube, please ensure that you upload your file as ‘Unlisted’ to limit visibility to those with the direct link to the video.
- Include your name, course and a short description of your video content.
- This should be between two and five minutes in length.
Once we receive your portfolio, we will provide feedback at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that we may recommend that you study an alternative course with us – for example, foundation year entry, based on the assessment of your portfolio submission.
BA Textile Design
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Content
- Include work relevant to your chosen course, also showing us who you are as a creative practitioner. Include ideas generation, experimentation and development as well as a cross-section of ideas to evidence your creative interests.
- Show examples of drawings. For fashion design: these should include fashion sketches, life drawings and observational drawings. For textiles: examples include sketches, observational drawings, collages and paintings. For both: you can also include textile sampling, photographs, print ideas, three-dimensional work, garments and anything else relevant to the area of creative practice.
- Take photos of 3D pieces you wish to include. Please ensure they are clear and show a sense of scale, texture, material, colour and context.
- Try to show one full project from start to finish with the preparatory drawings included. Annotations are helpful as they show how you research and reflect on the development of your work.
- Include one to three final pieces that you are able to talk about. This might include garments, interior pieces or artistic statements.
- Include content from your sketchbook/s, as this will give us an understanding of how you think and allow us to see the development of your drawing/design development.
- There is no set way to order your portfolio, but we would advise that you arrange it in an orderly way. For example, you may find it useful to cluster your portfolio into projects, or put it in a chronological order, or start and finish with your best pieces.
- If you are presenting your portfolio in an unusual way, keep it clear and clean.
Skills we would like to see
- Skills in relation to colour and materials.
- Drawing.
- Composition.
- Individuality.
- Use of a visible design process for idea development.
- Willingness to experiment using a range of media, fabrics and technology.
- A passion for your chosen subject.
- For fashion only: evidence of an understanding and love of text as you will be working with books, scripts and poetry on the course.
Format for digital portfolios
You have the option to submit your digital portfolio in PDF, PowerPoint or video format.
If submitting a PDF or PowerPoint file:
- Submit your work as one PDF or PowerPoint file, no more than 10MB in size. Please compress your file if it exceeds the limit.
- Ensure your work has a good screen resolution.
- You can include links to video, animations, and moving image work within your file if you wish. Please check that these links work before you submit your portfolio and that they can be accessed easily. We will not be able to view links that require a password.
If submitting a video file:
- Please copy and paste a link to YouTube or Vimeo into a document (Word or PDF) and upload this to the MySRS portal. If using YouTube, please ensure that you upload your file as ‘Unlisted’ to limit visibility to those with the direct link to the video.
- Include your name, course and a short description of your video content.
- This should be between two and five minutes in length.
Once we receive your portfolio, we will provide feedback at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that we may recommend that you study an alternative course with us – for example, foundation year entry, based on the assessment of your portfolio submission.
BA Fashion Communication
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Digital Portfolios
Type 1: For students currently studying a creative course at Level 3
Organize a summary of your strongest creative work into no more than 10 slides. This can include examples of:
- Drawing
- Collage
- Digital work
- Photography
- Graphic design
- Textiles
- Fashion design for clothing
Please provide links for any videos you would like us to see, using either YouTube or Vimeo.
Type 2: For students not studying a creative course at Level 3
We welcome applications from individuals who haven't studied a traditional art course.
If you are not enrolled in a creative course or have not studied art before, think about what visually stimulates you. Create no more than 10 slides that capture a mix of influences and examples of your own work. Your work could include:
- Photography
- Illustration
- Collage
We are looking for applicants with a genuine passion for visual imagery, preferably with a fashion focus. Fashion Communication involves promoting fashion through print, film, and digital media. You can find numerous excellent examples on Showstudio. Use one slide to showcase your favourite work by a professional fashion practitioner.
Submit your portfolio as either a PowerPoint or PDF file, with a maximum size of 20MB
Once we receive your portfolio, we will provide feedback at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that we may recommend that you study an alternative course with us – for example, foundation year entry, based on the assessment of your portfolio submission.
MA Fashion and Textile Design
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below.
Content
- Try to include at least two collections or projects, with one shown from start to finish. Show us your inspiration, research, drawings, development, technical skills, and the final outcome. Adding short notes or annotations helps us understand your creative journey.
- We’d love to see a range of work that highlights your making skills in your area of specialism. Show how your ideas develop from sketches and shape exploration through to toiling or sampling, construction, styling, and the finished collection.
- Include work that’s relevant to your chosen course but also shows who you are as a creative individual. Share your idea generation, experimentation, and development, along with pieces that reflect your personal interests.
- Add drawings, textile samples, print ideas, 3D work, and photographs of garments or objects. Make sure your images are clear and show texture, material, colour, and scale.
- Don’t forget to include pages from your sketchbooks, they give us a great insight into how you think, plan, and develop your ideas.
- If you’ve taken part in live projects, competitions, or industry experiences, include these too. They show your engagement and professional potential.
- You can also include any projects that focus on technical processes or working with clients or consumers, as these demonstrate your practical understanding of the industry.
- Organise your portfolio clearly so your creative journey is easy to follow. You might start with your strongest project that shows your full process, then follow with shorter overviews or organise your work by theme or timeline.
- If you’re presenting your portfolio in a unique or digital format, that’s fine — just make sure it’s clean, consistent, and easy to navigate.
Skills we would like to see
- A genuine passion and enthusiasm for your chosen subject.
- A willingness to experiment with a range of media, fabrics, and technology.
- The use of diverse inspirational sources and influences that inform your work (these could be contemporary, historic, or global).
- An ability to interpret a source and develop creative responses both two- and three-dimensionally through sketching and prototyping.
- The capacity to organise the resources required to undertake design projects.
- An awareness of designers, genres, and related industries within your area of interest, such as subcultures, movements, and iconic fashion or textile figures.
Format for digital portfolios
You have the option to submit your digital portfolio in PDF, PowerPoint or video format.
If submitting a PDF or PowerPoint file:
- Submit your digital portfolio as a single PDF file and ensure your work has a good screen resolution.
- Your digital portfolio should be no more than 20MB, and 30 pages. Please compress your file if it exceeds the limit.
- You can include links to video, animations, and moving image work within your file if you wish. Please check that these links work before you submit your portfolio and that they can be accessed easily. We will not be able to view links that require a password.
If submitting a video file:
- Please copy and paste a link to YouTube or Vimeo into a document (Word or PDF) and upload this to the MySRS portal. If using YouTube, please ensure that you upload your file as ‘Unlisted’ to limit visibility to those with the direct link to the video.
- Include your name, course and a short description of your video content.
- This should be between two and five minutes in length.
Once we receive your portfolio, we will provide feedback at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that we may recommend that you study an alternative course with us – for example, foundation year entry, based on the assessment of your portfolio submission.
MSc Sportswear Design
The content of your digital portfolio and the skills it demonstrates should be the same as if you were creating a physical portfolio. The only difference is that you will need to submit your portfolio through your applicant portal rather than physically bring it in for us to see.
We recommend that you start by watching our video guidance on creating a digital portfolio, and then take a look at the course-specific guidance below
Content
- Include work relevant to your chosen course, also showing us who you are as a creative practitioner. Include ideas generation, experimentation and development as well as a cross-section of ideas to evidence your creative interests.
- Show examples of drawings sketches, sampling, photographs of three-dimensional work, please ensure they are clear and show a sense of scale, texture, material, colour and context, garments and anything else relevant to the area of creative practice.
- Try to show one full project from start to finish with the preparatory drawings included. Annotations are helpful as they show how you research and reflect on the development of your work.
- Consider technical details and processes and any client /consumer direct generated projects.
- There is no set way to order your portfolio, but we would advise that you arrange it in an orderly way. For example, you may find it useful to cluster your portfolio into projects, or put it in a chronological order, or start and finish with your best pieces.
- If you are presenting your portfolio in an unusual way, keep it clear and clean.
Skills we would like to see
- Skills in relation to colour and materials
- Drawing
- Composition
- Individuality
- Willingness to experiment using a range of media, fabrics and technology
- A passion for your chosen subject
- For fashion only: evidence of an understanding and love of text as you will be working with books, scripts and poetry on the course
Format for digital portfolios
You have the option to submit your digital portfolio in PDF, PowerPoint or video format.
If submitting a PDF or PowerPoint file:
- Submit your work as one PDF or PowerPoint file, no more than 10MB in size. Please compress your file if it exceeds the limit.
- Ensure your work has a good screen resolution.
- You can include links to video, animations, and moving image work within your file if you wish. Please check that these links work before you submit your portfolio and that they can be accessed easily. We will not be able to view links that require a password.
If submitting a video file:
- Please copy and paste a link to YouTube or Vimeo into a document (Word or PDF) and upload this to the MySRS portal. If using YouTube, please ensure that you upload your file as ‘Unlisted’ to limit visibility to those with the direct link to the video.
- Include your name, course and a short description of your video content.
- This should be between two and five minutes in length.
Once we receive your portfolio, we will provide feedback at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that we may recommend that you study an alternative course with us – for example, foundation year entry, based on the assessment of your portfolio submission.