Course summary

Accessories is one of the fastest-growing sectors in fashion, with a strong global demand for skilled accessory designers. Our Fashion Accessories Design MA addresses contemporary challenges through material innovation and cutting-edge design. The course equips students with the creative, conceptual and critical skills needed to excel in the international fashion accessories industry. This programme fosters innovation by combining advanced digital techniques with in-depth material exploration, functional design, and aesthetic development. Students will refine their creativity through an interdisciplinary approach that responds to emerging trends in materiality, ethics, and sustainability, ensuring they are prepared for the evolving landscape of the global fashion industry and adjacent creative sectors. A key focus of the course is research into the historical and contemporary material culture of accessories, drawing on the Westminster Menswear Archive (WMA). With over 3,000 objects, including more than 200 examples of accessories, the archive provides an unparalleled resource for students to develop new approaches to materials, construction, and design within their own practice. Collaboration with industry partners on live projects gives students hands-on experience and professional insights, helping them contextualise their work within real-world commercial and creative environments. You’ll benefit from our strong industry connections and engage with professional development opportunities, including talks, mentoring schemes, and external visits. You’ll develop projects through independent research.  and complete the course with a personal portfolio of design work, highlighting your expertise and positioning your work within international accessory design industry.