Teaching Fellow in Fashion Design (Pattern Cutting)

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Open-ended (permanent)

Opportunity

The Fashion programme at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) is internationally recognised for nurturing creative, forward-thinking designers who go on to shape the global fashion industry. We are now seeking a dedicated and experienced Teaching Fellow in Fashion Design (Pattern Cutting) to join our team and lead the delivery and development of pattern cutting education within this dynamic and highly regarded programme.

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated pattern cutting expert with a strong foundation in both commercial and creative fashion practice. You will be expected to have professional experience in the fashion industry and/or an established track record of teaching pattern cutting in higher education settings. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a broad range of traditional pattern cutting techniques, including drafting, tailoring, outerwear, separates, and more complex, structured and creative garments. You will also bring expertise in supporting students working with a wide variety of materials—from conventional fabrics to more unconventional choices—in the development of original, high-quality garments.

The role involves delivering between three and four days of in-person teaching per week during core semester periods. As part of this, you will lead assigned course(s), contribute to others, and develop engaging, step-by-step visual teaching materials, including the regular creation and review of pattern blocks.

We are seeking a pattern cutting expert who values collaboration and is able to work effectively with design lecturers, tutors, technicians, and fellow course organisers to ensure cohesive, high-quality learning experiences in pattern cutting across the programme. You will demonstrate the ability to teach students at varying stages of development and with diverse learning needs.

Experience with digital pattern cutting tools such as Clo3D is desirable. However, if you are not yet fully experienced in this area, you will be expected to upskill and embed digital methods into your teaching practice. In addition to teaching, you will contribute to curriculum development, academic planning, and support the organisation of internal and external events such as graduate shows and exhibitions.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• Deep knowledge of traditional and contemporary pattern cutting techniques, with the ability to teach across various garment types and materials.
• Proven experience working in the fashion industry and/or delivering pattern cutting education at higher education level, demonstrating professional and pedagogical insight.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work closely with academic colleagues, technicians, and course organisers to ensure consistent, high-quality student experiences.
• Skilled in adapting teaching methods to support students at different stages of learning, including those with varied educational backgrounds or additional learning needs.
• Willingness and capacity to develop or enhance digital pattern cutting skills (e.g. Clo3D), and to embed these tools effectively into curriculum delivery.

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