Clothes and body related artefacts can be active, responsive, protective, or supportive in human actions and activities. In this way clothes can have a central role in different types of body-based activities, human performances and body-space interactions.

To specialize in performance wear at the Swedish School of Textiles is about exploring and developing wear that perform – act and interact – in relation to different human activities and performances in outdoor, sport, work or art from a wide range of perspectives – environmental, ethical, technical, cultural.

As a student here, you will have the opportunity to explore and develop a subject you choose yourself through a series of project-based courses. You will develop and introduce theoretical concepts through experimental and practical design development. The educational programme places great emphasis on artistic research work and encourages experimental, investigatory work that pushes the boundaries of the performance wear field.

In the first year, you will deepen your knowledge and skills in design methods and techniques as well as your ability to critically reflect upon and define ideas for exploration and development through design.

The last year is devoted to design research and degree project work, followed by elective courses that further prepare you for a career in the fashion design sector with its various actors or a career in academia with a focus on doctoral studies.

During the two years of the programme, you will also meet every week with fellow students and faculty members in design seminars that introduce and discuss a broad range of perspectives on design practice and research, from ethics to materiality, from art to business, that will help build your knowledge and skills for more complex interdisciplinary collaborations.

Society and collaboration

Borås and the surrounding Region Västra Götaland of Sweden are strong in textiles and clothing. That opens up for many different kinds of interesting opportunities for collaborations, learning, and experiences with business and research hubs as well as other type of actors in the sector. The Department of Design also coordinates and participates actively in several research and education networks internationally, offering exciting opportunities for collaboration in research and education. Moreover, the Swedish School of Textiles is also home to textile technology and textile business programmes at all study levels that, together, provide a platform for interdisciplinary perspectives and possible collaboration.

Future career

Graduates from the Master Programme with a Specialisation in Performance Wear have moved on to national and international careers at companies such as Peak Performance, Norröna, Salomon, Adidas, Kjus, Dansens Hus, GöteborgsOperan, Skånes Dansteater and many more. Graduates have also become entrepreneurship or pursued careers with organisations and projects driving sustainable development within the field. Additionally, graduates have continued with their careers in academia, pursuing research degrees, thus driving research and development within the field.

Apply to the programme

You can apply to the programme with any Art or Design educational background. You can also apply to more than one specialisation.

Read more about the master programmes other specialisations:

- Fashion Design
- Textile Design
- Textile Interaction Design

Eligibility assessment and selection are conducted on artistic grounds. These assessments are based on the work samples in candidates’ portfolios, application projects, as well as interviews. The first step is an assessment of the portfolio with respect to shown artistic creative ability, ability when it comes to experimental work, technical skill, and reflective ability. In the next step, some candidates are interviewed. Thereafter, a final assessment of eligibility and a ranking of applicants is conducted before final acceptance decisions are made.

Read more about how you should proceed with the application portfolio here.