About Us
Established Oct 1st, 1991, the IDC (Independent Design College) has offered state-of-the-art sewing, dressmaking, and tailoring courses and training, fully accredited by City & Guilds.
We also offer a wide range of one-day sewing and dressmaking classes, workshops, and short courses - you don't need to commit to a qualification or regular sessions!
Whatever your experience, we have the course for you. We can tailor each qualification to match your needs and interests exactly.
Our students are trained to the highest standard and our top students have the opportunity to compete against Savile Row Tailors in the prestigious Golden Shears competition.
Our tutors are all qualified, professional practitioners. So, between us we cover every skillset, guaranteeing you expert tuition in every aspect of tailoring, dressmaking, sewing, textiles, and embroidery. Whatever your skill level, we can realise your potential!
Head of Centre
Brenda Killigrew
Brenda is the Director of Inkberrow Design Centre & Fashion Education Consultant. Inkberrow Design Centre (IDC) has been located in Worcestershire for 30 plus years and is one of just a handful of fashion design and craft centres outside London, that provides professional training and workshops in sewing, corsetry, fashion design and clothing construction.
"I discovered my passion for sewing at the age of ten – I was helping at a neighbour’s house after school. She was a corsetry expert and tailoress. She taught me tailoring at an early age, this means I have been sewing for over 50 years. I bought my first sewing machine with my first month’s wages when I was 16 and went on to produce pin-stripe suits in the 1970s for everybody at work. I love to engineer in cloth, tailoring is my passion.
I hold 12 City & Guilds Fashion and textile related qualifications, along with my teaching degree in adult learning. I have taught in high schools, local colleges and my passion for teaching is in Community based projects. I have run many Charity based fashion and textiles projects across Worcestershire and Warwickshire."
Textiles
Ruth Parkinson
"My love of creativity, has been constant ever since I was a young child. I have always found the need to work with tactile fabrics and threads, inks and dyes to create my own Textile Art. Throughout my professional career I have enjoyed nurturing creativity in others. Witnessing first hand the wonderful sense of personal achievement obtained by students when pursuing their own artistic pursuits under guidance. I believe that Art not only heals the soul but enriches life."
Tailoring
Matthew Stanley
"I am a BA Hons Fashion Design 2024 Graduate with an unwavering passion for traditional tailoring. I blend my academic learning with my traditional tailoring apprenticeship skills to combine creative flare with a raw passion to mould materials into inspired timeless designs; designs that reflect perfected detail and superior quality. I am strongly guided by the principles of ethical and sustainable design."
