Deepen your technical and creative fashion skills with pattern-making, textiles, and entrepreneurship.
| Duration | 12 Months |
| Level | Level 5 (Craft) |
| Examining Body | TVET-CDACC |
Course Overview
The Level 5 Craft Certificate in Fashion Design Technology is a comprehensive, one-year programme that combines technical skill-building with the business and creative foundations of a fashion career. Learners study textile science, fashion sketching, fabric decoration, and ladies’ and gents’ wear construction, alongside digital literacy, communication, work ethics, and entrepreneurship.
Delivered over two academic terms at Delight Technical College, this TVET-CDACC-accredited Craft qualification prepares learners for skilled roles in the fashion industry or for launching their own fashion business, while also opening the door to the Level 6 Diploma in Fashion Design.
Why Choose This Course?
- A well-rounded curriculum covering technical, creative, and business skills
- Includes entrepreneurship training so graduates can launch their own fashion brand
- Covers both ladies’ wear and gents’ wear construction
- Pattern construction and grading- a core technical skill for scaling any fashion business
- Positions learners for direct entry into Level 6 Diploma studies
Learning Outcomes
- Apply core textile material principles when selecting and working with fabric
- Sketch and communicate original fashion designs
- Construct and decorate fabric-based fashion pieces
- Produce finished ladies’ wear and gents’ wear garments
- Draft and grade garment patterns across multiple sizes
- Apply professional work ethics and entrepreneurial thinking to a fashion business
- Use basic digital tools relevant to the fashion industry
Course Modules (Detailed)
| Module / Unit | Hours | What You’ll Learn |
| Term 3- Digital Literacy | 40 hours | Core computer and digital skills relevant to modern fashion businesses, from documentation to online presence. |
| Term 3- Communication Skills | 40 hours | Professional communication for client relationships, workplace collaboration, and business correspondence. |
| Term 3- Textile Material Principles | 60 hours | Understanding fibre types, fabric construction, and how different textiles behave in design and production. |
| Term 3- Fashion Design & Sketching | 60 hours | Translating design ideas into clear, communicable fashion sketches and technical drawings. |
| Term 3- Fabric Decoration | 80 hours | Advanced surface embellishment and decorative techniques to elevate finished garments. |
| Term 3- Ladies’ Wear | 200 hours | Full-scale construction of ladies’ wear garments, from concept to finished, market-ready piece. |
| Term 4- Pattern Construction & Grading | 160 hours | Drafting original patterns and grading them across a size range- a core technical skill for production-scale fashion work. |
| Term 4- Work Ethics and Practices | 40 hours | Professional standards, workplace conduct, and industry expectations. |
| Term 4- Entrepreneurial Skills | 40 hours | Business planning, costing, pricing, and marketing for a fashion enterprise. |
| Term 4- Gents’ Wear | 240 hours | Construction of gents’ wear garments, extending technical skill into menswear production. |
Practical Training
This Craft-level programme is intensive and project-based. Learners complete full garments from initial sketch through pattern drafting, cutting, construction, and finishing, and are assessed on realistic client-style briefs. The entrepreneurship and work-ethics components are delivered alongside practical work, so learners simultaneously build a technical portfolio and the business skills to sell it.
Career Opportunities
- Independent fashion designer / boutique owner
- Skilled pattern maker in a fashion house or garment manufacturer
- Production supervisor in a small to mid-size garment enterprise
- Freelance designer producing both ladies’ and gents’ wear
- Direct progression to the Level 6 Diploma in Fashion Design
Entry Requirements
A minimum mean grade of D (plain) in KCSE, or a Level 4 Certificate in a related discipline.
Documents Required at Application:
- A copy of your National ID, Passport, or Birth Certificate
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- A copy of your KCPE and/or KCSE result slip or certificate (where applicable)
Skills You’ll Gain
Pattern drafting and grading • Textile material knowledge • Fashion sketching • Fabric decoration • Ladies’ and gents’ wear construction • Business planning and entrepreneurship • Professional communication • Digital literacy
Certification
On successful completion, learners are awarded a Level 5 Craft Certificate in Fashion Design Technology, accredited by TVET-CDACC, with clear progression to the Level 6 Diploma in Fashion Design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the entry requirement for this Craft-level course?
A: A KCSE mean grade of D (plain), or a Level 4 Certificate in a related discipline.
Q: Does this course include business training?
A: Yes. Entrepreneurial Skills is a core unit, covering costing, pricing, and marketing so graduates can run a fashion business, not just sew garments.
Q: Will I learn both ladies’ and gents’ wear?
A: Yes. The curriculum includes dedicated units for both Ladies’ Wear and Gents’ Wear construction.
Q: What can I do after completing this course?
A: Many graduates launch their own fashion labels, join established fashion houses as pattern makers or production staff, or proceed to the Level 6 Diploma programme.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Kenya’s creative and technical industries are actively hiring skilled, certified talent and Fashion Design Technology (Craft Certificate) at Delight Technical College is your fastest, most practical route to becoming one of them. With hands-on training, experienced tutors, flexible study modes, and a qualification recognised by TVET-CDACC, you’ll graduate ready to work, freelance, or build your own business from day one.
Intake is currently in progress. Visit Delight Technical College on Muindi Mbingu Street, opposite Jevanjee Gardens, Nairobi, call or WhatsApp +254 722 533 771 / +254 724 566 088, email [email protected], or apply online at delight.ac.ke to secure your place on the Fashion Design Technology (Craft Certificate) programme today.
