University of Nairobi Design: Fashion and Textiles, Portfolio and Published Fees

The University of Nairobi presents fashion and textiles within its Bachelor of Arts in Design. That setting can interest a student who wants to understand clothing alongside other forms of visual and material design. When researching a fashion programme in Nairobi, begin with the exact award and specialisation rather than assuming that every course using the word design follows the same route.

A design degree with a fashion and textile option

The department’s official Bachelor of Arts in Design page includes a Fashion and Textile Design option. Its published structure names Fashion Design and Development, Printing and Weaving, Pattern Drafting and Garment Construction. Those titles connect the appearance of an outfit with the methods used to produce its fabric surfaces, shape and finished assembly.

For an applicant, the useful question is how those parts meet in a project. Ask the department to explain when specialisation is selected and how the sequence develops for the relevant intake. A clear account of the pathway will help you compare the programme with your interests, whether those are mainly in clothing, textile surfaces or the relationship between them.

What the displayed fee schedule says

The official page’s four-year fee schedule, checked on 26 October 2026, displays KSh 287,000 for year one, including KSh 240,000 in tuition. It lists later annual totals of KSh 283,000, KSh 280,000 and KSh 275,000. Their displayed programme total is KSh 1,125,000. These are published schedule figures; obtain your current assessment and funding terms from the university.

Keep the fee period visible when comparing information. Ask which charges are recurring and what is covered by an individual payment. Plan transport, living costs and the materials needed for practical work separately. The purpose of a budget is to make the study arrangement workable, rather than to treat one headline tuition number as a complete account of every expense.

Using a broad design foundation

A broad foundation can be useful when a fashion problem requires more than a clothing sketch. Consider the relationship between a printed surface and the shape of a garment, or between a collection and the way it is displayed. Start by explaining the problem in everyday language, then test whether the visual choices make that purpose clear.

For your own preparatory work, gather examples that demonstrate different ways of solving a similar need. Compare their proportions, materials and presentation. Record the source of each reference and write down what you find useful about it. That practice helps a mood board become an argument for a design direction, rather than a page of attractive images without a clear relationship.

Thinking through a textile sample

A small textile experiment can be a focused starting point. Try a limited colour relationship or a repeated shape, then examine how it behaves when folded, gathered or placed against another surface. Photograph the test and note which conditions make the effect clearer. Keep the observation separate from the next idea you would like to try.

When a surface is intended for clothing, look at it from more than one distance. A detail that works close to the eye may read differently across a full outfit. This does not require an elaborate collection to investigate. A few well-recorded samples can help you identify a stronger direction before committing to a larger piece of work.

From a pattern to a wearable result

A garment project benefits from a visible sequence. Begin with the intended wearer and use, then show how the outline, pattern and first sample relate to that brief. After a fitting, record the changes you choose to make. An adjustment can demonstrate thoughtful development when you explain the reason behind it, rather than presenting the later version without its history.

For a portfolio, use consistent views of the garment and add a close photograph where a fastening or construction detail matters. Avoid hiding the work behind a busy background. The viewer should be able to understand both the overall shape and the part of the making process you want to discuss. Keep the source of the fabric and any collaborators’ contributions accurately recorded.

Practical learning and study arrangements

The official programme information describes face-to-face, distance-learning arrangements for suitable activities, and blended delivery. It makes provision for practical sessions and lists industrial attachment in its structure. Ask the department which delivery arrangement actually applies to your cohort, including attendance for practical work and any placement-related responsibilities.

This matters if you would commute across Nairobi or relocate from another city. Request the current timetable before making housing or travel commitments. A course enquiry becomes more productive when it identifies the intake, specialisation and attendance question together. Keep the written response with the admission documents so that you can plan around the arrangement you have been offered.

Preparing an informed conversation

Bring a short selection of work that demonstrates your interests and a small list of questions. Ask how projects are assessed, how feedback is given and what students are expected to obtain for practical activities. If you are comparing institutions, use the same questions for each conversation so the answers can be assessed on a consistent basis.

The department publishes +254 20 4913505 and stad@uonbi.ac.ke as support contacts. Use the full Bachelor of Arts in Design name and specify the fashion and textile interest. Before sending documents or making a payment, check the current process through the university’s own admissions route and the instructions supplied for your application.

Styling a collection or portfolio shoot

Accessories can help make a garment’s intended context visible. A practical shoulder bag suggests a different use from an evening clutch; a simple necklace can leave a textile print more prominent. Try the finished arrangement together and photograph it from the distance at which someone will first see the whole look.

Explore Moyo Lane when looking for bags and jewellery to support a personal wardrobe or a presentation. Choose a few pieces that work with more than one outfit, then build the styling around the particular garment or fabric. A consistent set of references can help you explain why the final combination belongs with the design idea.

Frequently asked questions

What is the qualification called?

The university lists a Bachelor of Arts in Design, with Fashion and Textile Design among its options. Ask how specialisation is organised for the intake you are considering.

What does the published first-year schedule total?

The departmental table shows KSh 287,000, including KSh 240,000 tuition. Request a current individual fee assessment and the applicable funding arrangement.

Which practical subjects appear in the fashion option?

The published structure includes pattern drafting, garment construction, printing and weaving, and fashion design and development. Discuss their sequence and assessment with the department.

More from the Moyo Lane journal

Read about Katungulu Mwendwa and Katush and Kenya Fashion Week’s 2025 student-design awards for separate examples of professional practice and student creativity.

Browse Moyo Lane’s current catalogue for bags, jewellery and accessories.

Sources checked

https://arts-design.uonbi.ac.ke/admission-content-type/bachelor-arts-design · https://arts-design.uonbi.ac.ke/