Gear Up For The Real World
Maybe you’re already knee-deep in design, engineering, business, or kinesiology, and you’re craving something more specific. Or maybe you just finished your undergrad and you’re not quite ready to stop learning. Either way, you’ll find your people here.
The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Technical Apparel Design puts you right at the centre of British Columbia’s world-renowned technical apparel scene, working alongside people who’ve built gear for companies like Arc’teryx, lululemon, and Helly Hansen.
Over two years at The KPU Wilson School of Design, you’ll move from research and concept work through to production. You’ll spend your final semester bringing a capstone project to life, with a final launch at a real industry exhibition. And if you’re working while you do it? No problem. Our flexible schedule means your career doesn’t have to wait.
Program Highlights
- Every year, we only admit a small group of top applicants. The tight-knit group gets easy access to faculty and industry leaders.
- Applications run from October 1 to March 1. Apply early to give yourself time to build a strong entrance package.
- Our Advisory Committee includes industry leaders, from a former lululemon and Arc’teryx product strategist to a sustainability director at Higg Product Tools. They make sure our curriculum stays up to date and responsive to changes in the industry.
- B.C. is home to three dozen technical apparel companies, and our grads are actively recruited by names like Mountain Equipment Company, Mustang Survival, and Sugoi.
- Already working in technical apparel? You may be able to earn credit for your experience through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).
- Transfer credits are assessed on an individual basis if you’re coming from another program or institution. Bring your coursework and the Office of the Registrar will help you sort through it.
- Classes run two evenings a week plus all-day Fridays, so you can keep working while you study.
- Seats are reserved for students who stay on the program’s set course sequence, so plan carefully if you’re balancing work and study.
- To complete the diploma, you’ll need to maintain a program GPA of 2.5 or higher throughout your four semesters.
- Some graduates go on to launch the very products they developed in the program. This diploma isn’t just a credential, it’s a launchpad.
Want more detail? Check our FAQ if you still have questions.
Costs and Equipment
Tuition and Fees
Use our Tuition Estimator to get a sense of costs, though keep in mind there are mandatory student fees and other fees on top of tuition.
Scholarships may be available for qualified students but please note: this program isn’t currently eligible for B.C. Student Assistance loans.
Materials
Plan to spend about $1,000 on books, supplies, fabric, and printing over the course of the program.
Laptop
You’ll need a laptop and some specific software to keep up with coursework.
Visit Equipment & Software for the minimum specs and recommended programs.
Travel Opportunities
It’s not required, but you may get the chance to travel and connect with partners at universities or companies in other provinces or even the U.S.
Travel costs aren’t covered by tuition, but similar opportunities are often available closer to home too.
Program Timeline
Semester 1: Getting started
Get grounded in the technical apparel industry, textile technology, and the fundamentals of production. This is where you start seeing your field with fresh eyes.
Semester 2: Finding your direction
Learn how to research users, develop a strategic design direction, and translate your ideas into technical drawings ready for product development.
Semester 3: Bringing it together
Build your business strategy skills alongside more advanced production techniques, while starting the research phase of your capstone project.
Semester 4: Capstone
Spend your final semester on industry experience and bringing your capstone project to life, from development through to production, ready to launch at an industry exhibition.
Industry-Ready Skills
By the time you graduate, you’ll have hands-on experience across the full technical apparel development cycle, backed by a capstone project that proves you can do it in the real world.
Research & Strategy
You’ll learn to research real users and translate that insight into a strategic design direction, understanding the “why” behind every technical apparel decision before you ever start creating.
Technical Design & Production
You’ll work across textile technology, technical drawing, and production, gaining the hands-on skills to take a concept from sketch to manufactured product.
Business & Industry Connections
You’ll build business strategy skills specific to technical apparel, and gain direct industry experience through guest lectures, site visits, and a supervised placement.
Look Behind The Scenes
For inspiration, browse our Technical Apparel feed or search @wilsondesignkpu on Instagram to see what our community is making right now.
Ready To Get Started?
We're looking for creative innovators, technologists, and strategic thinkers ready to push this industry forward. Sound like you? Time to take the next step.
To apply, you’ll need to meet our English Proficiency Requirement, submit an Entrance Package, and complete an interview. Get all the details here: