Materials for your course

What materials do I need to get my hands on? Where can I get them and how much will it cost? These questions are commonly asked by students and in this post we will provide you with some tips to help you avoid unnecessary overspending.

Remember your student discount

Wherever you buy materials, you should always ask if they have a student discount. Don't have an Australian Academy of Fashion Design student card yet? Just email us a recent headshot with your student number to [email protected] and we will request one for you. 

Basic list of materials needed to start your course (all students)

The list below is a breakdown of what you will need when starting the course and what you can expect to pay (note, prices may vary*). Your biggest investment is a sewing machine. Spotlight sells sewing machines from $200. This equipment can be found in most office supply outlets and fabric shops, so please shop around.

$9.99        A3 sketch book  

$6.99        2 scissors (one for fabric and one for paper)

$3.56        2H & 2B pencils (or a clutch pencil)

$19.96      Black pens with a variety of nib sizes (e.g. Fineliner 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7)

$3.98        Colouring pencils (e.g. Polychromos by Faber-Castell)

$0.50        Eraser

$200.00    Sewing machine (Classroom-based students will need to take their sewing machine to class for some sessions).

$1.99        Thread (120 gauge. Note: Gutermann thread is better quality but more expensive with starting pricing of $2.50) 

$1.79        Measurement tape

$5.99        Box of pins

$3.99        Sewing needles

$5.99        Calico

As you progress through the course you may be required to pick up a few bits and pieces such as mounting boards and foam boards for presentations. You will also need fabric swatches for experimenting and fabrics for garment construction but, these will all depend on the nature of the design project that you work on. It is these types of materials that you will build on as you progress through your career. 

Additional materials for Advanced Certificate, PG Certificate, HNC and HND students

For students on the Advanced Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma courses, the items listed below are required. Note: Students on the Certificate course do not require any of the items listed below.

Keep in mind that most of the items mentioned here are one-off investments. For example, one of our tutors recently said that she still uses all of the original materials that she bought when she first began studying fashion design back in 1996. The prices listed below should be considered a guide only so please shop around for the best deals.

These items will be with you for many years and will be used and reused throughout the course and onwards into your fashion career. Rax & Dollies sell polystyrene mannequins for approximately $110.

$110.00    Mannequin (polystyrene)

$14.99      Set Square (see example)

$14.99      Long ruler

$43.00      Pattern Master

$17.00      Paper for pattern drafting (spot and cross pattern paper - Roll with 10 meters)

For those studying the Postgraduate Certificate, HNC or HND, you will learn how to use Adobe Illustrator in our computer-aided design (CAD) unit. Note: Adobe Illustrator is not required until unit six of your course. Your tutor will discuss this with you in more detail before you start this unit.

*These prices are from Spotlight and Rax & Dollies (prices correct as of 26th May 2023).

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