Fashion Creative Lab
Draping, Textile Manipulation and Upcycling
Milan
ENG
Summer and Winter Courses
Language
English
Start date
June 2026
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
3 Weeks
Course Coordination
Nuala Goodman
Price
€ 2.800
Learn to master the core technical skills involved in the fashion world and design a complete garment.
Whether you want to work on a personal project or approach the fashion industry, this course will provide you with basic textile manipulation skills, with a focus on draping and upcycling.
In 3 weeks, you will learn basic, advanced and finishing techniques and apply theoretical knowledge to a variety of practical projects.
By the end of the course, you will have all the necessary tools to design a complete garment independently.
Information to decide
The course lasts 75 hours and is spread over 3 weeks. Lessons will be held from Monday to Thursday at the IED campus in Milan, both in the morning and in the afternoon.
In three weeks, you will master the key techniques of textile manipulation. Throughout the course, considerable time will be devoted to practical experimentation. You will be able to apply the various techniques by designing different garments and take part in several revision and improvement sessions.
The experience will be supplemented by two visits to leading companies in the field of sustainable and pre-loved fashion.
The Fashion Creative Lab is aimed at anyone who is keen to approach the world of fashion and acquire techniques related to draping, textile manipulation and upcycling for personal or professional purposes.
No previous knowledge is necessary.
Syllabus
The course is divided into two parts: in the first, the techniques and principles of draping will be investigated. In the second, different textile manipulation techniques will be explored. Finally, there will be a photo workshop to shoot the garments created during the lessons.
Draping
The first 30 hours will be dedicated to draping. It will begin with an overview of the history, evolution and use of this technique.
You will then familiarise yourself with the materials and tools needed for draping: fabric types, mannequins, pins, scissors and dressmaking chalk. You will then move into the heart of the course, gradually learning basic, finishing and advanced techniques.
You will then put the theory into practice by designing a complete garment. You will learn how to transfer the final work onto a two-dimensional paper template and adapt it for different types of fabrics and sizes. Finally, you will present your work to the class.
Textile Manipulation and Upcycling
During the second part of the course, you will learn about different types of fabrics and their characteristics. You will experiment with different textile manipulation techniques: pleating, smocking, dipdyes, ecoprints and the creation of three-dimensional textures.
Then, you will take an in-depth look at the principles of upcycling and its most successful applications. You will learn how to evaluate and select used clothing or fabric scraps, identifying the materials that have the greatest potential to be transformed into a new garment or accessory.
Next, you will discover specific upcycling techniques, such as deconstructing and reconstructing garments, using patchwork and adding decorative details through textile manipulation and mending. Finally, you will transform pre-existing garments into a new creation, from initial idea to finishing.
Shooting
You will take part in a photography workshop, shoot your best projects in the photo studio and present your work.
Visiting
Two guided tours are planned during the course: one to the Humana Vintage headquarters, and one to the sustainable jeans manufacturer Candiani as well as other shops in the centre of Milan.
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