Lorna Ballantyne: Fashion Technology

2nd year

After visiting several universities, I decided that Heriot-Watt was where I wanted to study. The facilities available at the Scottish Borders Campus are superior to any of the universities I previously visited. All the technical staff have worked in industry and are a font of knowledge!

An advantage of being at a smaller campus is that we have access to many forms of support including lecturers, tutors and technicians. Also, there are more opportunities for one-to-one help and meetings.

Fashion Technology was the best programme for me. It inspired me in terms of content, facilities, resources and potential career prospects. The programme has a wide variety of courses covering marketing, manufacture, textiles, design, CAD, pattern development, as well as the making of garments. This is what appealed to me about the programme, the variety and the emphasis on practical work backed up with theoretical knowledge.

We work on industrial sewing machines, overlockers, button-hole machines, irons and a professional fusing press. Also, we use Lectra and Diamino software in the CAD room for pattern drafting and pattern grading, one of the main software packages used in industry.

We have opportunities to study womenswear, fashion and tailoring, menswear and niche markets such as sportswear. I believe that having an understanding of each stage of the industry gives us the best opportunities in terms of education and career prospects.

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