Course Description
Fashion Foundation is an intensive 3-month fashion design day course that gives you a solid professional and creative foundation in fashion and design. The course is aimed at those who want to prepare for higher education in fashion design and build a professional portfolio for admission to design schools in Denmark and abroad.
The course is offered by the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design in Copenhagen and is taught by an experienced teaching team consisting of established fashion designers René Gurskov and Mikkel Johansen, and trend forecaster Luisa Traina. Together they cover the creative, analytical and craftsmanship side of fashion design.
During the course, you will work with the core disciplines of the fashion industry and gain a basic understanding of how a design is developed from idea and research to finished product. You build a varied fashion design portfolio that documents process, methodology and skills.
Since 1931, Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design has had a strong tradition of a craft-based approach to fashion education. At Fashion Foundation, there is therefore a strong focus on practical work where you learn how to work with materials, pattern construction and sewing and gain experience in designing and producing a complete garment from scratch.
The course is taught in both Danish and English and is aimed at both Danish and international students who want a serious and practical preparatory fashion course.
Yield
Your final portfolio will consist of, among other things:
- Design and trend research
- Illustrations and line-ups
- Product development and tech packs
- Catwalk and fashion analysis
- Photoshoot and styling
- A ready-made silhouette
Target Group
The Fashion Foundation is targeted:
- If you're considering a fashion design education
- Those who want a preparatory fashion course before entering design school
- You want to build a strong fashion and design portfolio
- If you want a practical introduction to the fashion industry
- Both beginners and participants with basic experience who want to improve their professional level
There will be thorough and individual guidance for all students.
Course Certificate
Once you have successfully completed our course at SAFD, you will receive a course certificate confirming your completion of the course and its modules. This certificate will strengthen your CV and expand your career opportunities, and it will symbolize your dedication, skills and knowledge of the course’s professional content.
Teachers
Luisa Elvira Traina
Luisa Elvira Traina has worked as a consultant with some of the biggest brands in the world within lifestyle, trends and fashion. Today, Luisa has her own trend consulting agency, where she holds trend workshops, focusing on the clients' needs.
René Gurskov
René Gurskov graduated from the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design (formerly Margrethe-Skolen) and has for several decades run his own fashion brand, which has been very successful in the Asian market. René also teaches at the school's 3-year education program.
Mikkel Johansen
Mikkel Johansen graduated from the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design (formerly Margrethe-Skolen) and works as an independent fashion designer and product developer.
Product Development / Trend Forecasting / Pattern Cutting / Fashion Research
Presentation Techniques / Tech Packs / Portfolio Development / Photoshoot & Styling /
Meet the Educators
In this video, you’ll meet the Fashion Foundation’s educators who introduce themselves and talk about their professional background and experiences from the fashion industry. They share their personal approach to fashion design and give insight into how their individual skills and specialties come into play in teaching.
The instructors talk about the areas they each teach and how their experience in design, trend analysis and craftsmanship informs the course content. The video gives a clear picture of how different professional perspectives are combined in Fashion Foundation and how the teaching is organized with a focus on process, method and practice.
The video serves as an introduction to the teaching team and gives you a better understanding of who teaches the course, what they bring to the table, and how their knowledge and experience translates into concrete teaching throughout the course.
Course Sequence
Phase 1 - Introduction & Foundation (weeks 1-3)
In the initial phase, you are introduced to fashion design in a modern context. Here we work with:
- Fashion Research
- Trend Forecasting
- Fashion History
- Catwalk Analysis
- Drawing and Illustration
Phase 2 - Design & Development (weeks 4-7)
In the design and development phase, you work with ideation and concept building, including:
- Idea and Concept Development
- Line-ups and Visual Identity
- Fabric Manipulation and Material Understanding
- 3D Research and Experiments
- Adobe package (Illustrator / Photoshop)
Phase 3 - Design & Production (weeks 8-12)
In this phase, your design ideas are translated into physical products with a focus on craftsmanship and precision:
- Pattern Cutting and Basic Pattern Construction
- Sewing and Construction
- Tech Packs and Product Documentation
- Preparation of finished garment
Phase 4 - Presentation & Portfolio (weeks 13-14)
The course concludes with a focus on communication and presentation of your work:
- Photoshoot and Styling
- Presentation Technique
- Portfolio building
- Final Presentation and Evaluation
Questions and Answers
Here you’ll find answers to the most common questions we receive from our students – both Danish and international.
We recommend that you read this section carefully before signing up. If you still have questions, you are always welcome to contact us – we are happy to help!
Classes are held in both Danish and English. We have participants from both Denmark and abroad, and it’s fine if you only understand English. The teachers make sure everyone gets the information they need.
To sign up, click the “Enrollment” button and fill out the form. Once you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation email.
Payment is made at registration and can be made with VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Diners, Maestro, Apple Pay and Google Pay. All prices are in Danish Kroner (DKK). If you cannot use one of these payment methods, please contact us for an alternative solution.
You will receive a material list after registration. Some courses require specific materials (e.g. fabric, sketchbooks or drawing tools) that you need to bring or buy yourself. Any additional costs over and above the course fee will be clearly stated.
Sewing machines will be available for all participants.
Our courses are designed to cater to different experience levels – from beginners to more advanced participants. Each course has its own target group, and we recommend that you read each course description carefully to find the course that best suits your needs and ambitions.
In all courses, we emphasize thorough individual guidance so you can develop at your own pace – whatever your starting point. If you have previous experience in the field, the teachers will help you deepen and refine your techniques.
We do not provide accommodation for our students, but we recommend using platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com or similar short-term rental services. In addition, we have gathered advice and useful links for housing in Copenhagen here.
The age distribution varies from course to course. In general, the majority of our course participants are between the ages of 18 and 35, but we welcome everyone over the age of 16 – regardless of age, background or experience.
Our Summer School is aimed specifically at a younger target group between the ages of 16 and 30. Here you will typically meet like-minded young adults – both Danish and international – who are curious about fashion and design and who want to try out or immerse themselves in creative processes.
In other courses, you’ll meet a more mixed age group where you can expect to work with students, passionate hobbyists, industry professionals and entrepreneurs of all ages.
We prioritize an open and inclusive learning environment, where the mix of experiences, nationalities and perspectives is what creates a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere in our classes.
Application deadlines vary from course to course, but places are limited and fill up quickly. We recommend that you register as early as possible. You can find the exact dates on the individual course pages.
Unless otherwise stated in the course description, you can withdraw and get your course fee back up to 30 days before the course starts. After that, the registration is binding and the amount is non-refundable.
In the unlikely event that a team is not created, we will of course refund the full amount.
Other Courses
Summer School
Denim
Fashion Tech Lab
Summer School (Extra)
Fashion Design
Pattern Cutting (Beginner)
Fashion Collections
Fashion Illustration
Fashion Design
Pattern Cutting (Advanced)
Summer School (Intensive)
Fashion Trend Forecasting
Fashion Portfolio
Sewing and Techniques
