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BTXF412
Fashion History and Contextual Studies

ECTS Value: 6 ECTS

 

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

This unit will help learners to analyse in detail the traditional and contemporary fashion and textile techniques by expanding on the fashion history timeline dating from the pre-historic to the twentyfirst century. By delving into the past fashion eras, learners will be able to create and generate new ideas for future fashion trends. 

The unit will focus on the following topics: 

  • The fashion history timeline 
  • The Pre-historic to the ancient period 
  • Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt fashion 
  • Baroque and Rococo fashion 
  • Nineteenth Century fashion 
  • Twentieth to the Twenty-first Century fashion 

By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:

Competences

a. Engage with literature to develop a critical and comprehensive understanding of fashion history;
b. Develop creative inspiration for key styles from fashion history;
c. Critically evaluate the terminology of fashion industry across the periods;
d. Engage with research literature to develop a comprehensive understanding of the influence of human culture on fashion accessories throughout history.

 

Knowledge

a. Identify the timelines which influenced the major fashion eras;
b. Understanding and expanding on the pre-historic fashion to the ancient period;
c. Understanding and expanding on the Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt fashion;
d. Understanding and expanding on the middle ages and renaissance fashion;
e. Understanding and expanding on the Baroque and Rococo fashion;
f. Understanding and expanding on the nineteenth to the twenty-first century fashion;
g. Determine the fashion history timeline;
h. Conclude which are the key styles which influenced different fashion periods;
i. Systematically identify the fashion periods dating from pre-historic to the twenty-first century;
j. Observe and critique the different terminology related to contemporary fashion styles;
k. Comment on various fashionable accessories. 

 

Skills

a. Determine which styles belong to which fashion era;
b. Appreciate how modern fashion trends are derived from the past fashion eras;
c. Interpret what a fashion cycle is;
d. Observe various terminology in relation to contemporary fashion styles, such as toile, haute couture, prêt-à-porter and fad fashion;
e. Determine how fashion forecasting is achieved;
f. Analysing the timelines which influenced the major fashion eras.  

 

Assessment Methods

This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures.

Suggested Readings

Core Reading List
1. Cosgrave, B. (2001). The complete history of costume & fashion. New York: Checkmark Books.
2. Welters, L. and Lillethun, A. (2017). Fashion history. A global view. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
3. Fukai, A. and Suoh, T. (2015). Fashion A History from the 18th to the 20th century. Köln: Taschen.
4. English, B. (2013). A cultural history of fashion in the 20th and 21st centuries. 2nd ed. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Supplementary Reading List
1. Cumming, V., Cunnington, C. and Cunnington, P. (2017). The dictionary of fashion history. 2nd ed. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. 

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