TESTIMONIALS ***
“Salmena was an incredibly reliable and nurturing tutor who always helped me to the best of her ability. Her technical knowledge and deep well of cultural references were invaluable to both my personal growth and my design development. I doubt I would have survived my final year without her unwavering support and encouragement.”
Ryan Cowie - STUDENT
TESTIMONIALS ***
“Salmena’s attention to detail and deep knowledge of fashion and textiles is outstanding. She always took time to support me and her genuine care for her students truly set her apart. She is an exceptionally talented lecturer.”
Katrina Gillespie - STUDENT
Salmena Carvalho is a Fashion and Textile Design lecturer, designer and consultant with more than a decade of international teaching experience. Based at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, her practice spans fashion design, textiles, product development and creative education, with additional international teaching experience at Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, Donghua University.
Combining industry practice with a highly hands-on approach to education, Salmena works across research, concept development, portfolio development, fashion illustration, pattern cutting and garment realisation. Her teaching brings together traditional craftsmanship and contemporary digital processes, supporting students from initial idea through to resolved design outcomes.
Her wider practice is grounded in ethics, sustainability, inclusion and social responsibility. As a member of Fashion and the Arts Creating Equity (FACE), she has contributed to wider conversations around representation and structural equality within fashion and higher education.
→ NAME: Salmena Carvalho
→ CAREER: Fashion & Textile Designer, Lecturer, Mentor, Design ConsultanT
→ Current Role: Lecturer, Fashion & Textile Design, Edinburgh College of Art – University of Edinburgh
→ International Teaching: Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, Donghua University
→ Industry Practice: Freelance Design Consultant
→ Qualifications: BA (Hons), FHEA
→ Institutes: Edinburgh College of Art · University of Edinburgh · Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation · Donghua University
→ Professional Focus: Fashion & Textile Design · Product Development · Sustainability · Ethics · Social Responsibility · Inclusive Education
Available For
• Fashion & Textiles 1:1 — All Levels
• Portfolio Development — Foundation / BA / MA
• Womenswear Design & Development
• Fashion Illustration & Visual Communication
• Pattern Cutting & Garment Development
• Textile Exploration & Material Development
• Research, Concept & Design Development
• Sustainable & Responsible Design Practice
• International / Cross-Cultural Fashion Education
Q&A
DEFINE YOURSELF AESTHETICALLY:
↳ I love reimagining classic garments with a modern perspective, bringing unexpected features together through silhouette, cut and detail. Craftsmanship remains central to my practice; I pay close attention to fabric, construction and finishing to create pieces that are not only beautiful, but functional and made to last.
WHAT UNIQUE QUALITIES DO YOU BRING TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
↳ Growing up between two cultures gave me a perspective rooted in connection and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship from around the world. Although my background is in womenswear, I am equally passionate about textiles and the technical “how-to” of design. I am a highly hands-on educator, working across research, portfolio development, illustration, pattern cutting and garment development. I combine traditional and digital processes to help students understand every stage of the design journey and, most importantly, how to translate an idea into something tangible.
WHAT DRIVES YOU TO TEACH?
↳ I want my students to develop high-level Fashion and Textile Design skills while simultaneously building confidence in themselves and their creative voice. I am committed to providing tailored guidance within an inclusive environment — giving students the foundations to develop resilience, trust their instincts and navigate an ever-changing creative industry with confidence.
WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?
↳ I believe deeply in learning through doing. Mistakes are not failures; they are opportunities for discovery. My role is to create an environment in which students feel confident enough to experiment, take creative risks and push their design thinking. Clear communication, trust and genuine connection are fundamental to that process. From the first idea through to final resolution, I aim to give students both the technical knowledge and creative independence to become thoughtful, conscious designers.
CAREER HIGH:
↳ One of the most exciting highlights of my career has been teaching internationally, particularly in Shanghai. Immersing myself in another culture, working with people from diverse backgrounds and experiencing the energy of the city was unforgettable. Experiences like these continually remind me of the value of creative exchange — learning from communities around the world and bringing those perspectives back into the classroom.
→ NAME: Salmena Carvalho
→ CAREER: Fashion & Textile Designer, Lecturer, Mentor, Design ConsultanT
→ Current Role: Lecturer, Fashion & Textile Design, Edinburgh College of Art – University of Edinburgh
→ International Teaching: Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, Donghua University
→ Industry Practice: Freelance Design Consultant
→ Qualifications: BA (Hons), FHEA
→ Institutes: Edinburgh College of Art · University of Edinburgh · Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation · Donghua University
→ Professional Focus: Fashion & Textile Design · Product Development · Sustainability · Ethics · Social Responsibility · Inclusive Education
Salmena Carvalho is a Fashion and Textile Design lecturer, designer and consultant with more than a decade of international teaching experience. Based at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, her practice spans fashion design, textiles, product development and creative education, with additional international teaching experience at Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, Donghua University.
Combining industry practice with a highly hands-on approach to education, Salmena works across research, concept development, portfolio development, fashion illustration, pattern cutting and garment realisation. Her teaching brings together traditional craftsmanship and contemporary digital processes, supporting students from initial idea through to resolved design outcomes.
Her wider practice is grounded in ethics, sustainability, inclusion and social responsibility. As a member of Fashion and the Arts Creating Equity (FACE), she has contributed to wider conversations around representation and structural equality within fashion and higher education.
DEFINE YOURSELF AESTHETICALLY:
↳ I love reimagining classic garments with a modern perspective, bringing unexpected features together through silhouette, cut and detail. Craftsmanship remains central to my practice; I pay close attention to fabric, construction and finishing to create pieces that are not only beautiful, but functional and made to last.
WHAT UNIQUE QUALITIES DO YOU BRING TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
↳ Growing up between two cultures gave me a perspective rooted in connection and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship from around the world. Although my background is in womenswear, I am equally passionate about textiles and the technical “how-to” of design. I am a highly hands-on educator, working across research, portfolio development, illustration, pattern cutting and garment development. I combine traditional and digital processes to help students understand every stage of the design journey and, most importantly, how to translate an idea into something tangible.
WHAT DRIVES YOU TO TEACH?
↳ I want my students to develop high-level Fashion and Textile Design skills while simultaneously building confidence in themselves and their creative voice. I am committed to providing tailored guidance within an inclusive environment — giving students the foundations to develop resilience, trust their instincts and navigate an ever-changing creative industry with confidence.
WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?
↳ I believe deeply in learning through doing. Mistakes are not failures; they are opportunities for discovery. My role is to create an environment in which students feel confident enough to experiment, take creative risks and push their design thinking. Clear communication, trust and genuine connection are fundamental to that process. From the first idea through to final resolution, I aim to give students both the technical knowledge and creative independence to become thoughtful, conscious designers.
CAREER HIGH:
↳ One of the most exciting highlights of my career has been teaching internationally, particularly in Shanghai. Immersing myself in another culture, working with people from diverse backgrounds and experiencing the energy of the city was unforgettable. Experiences like these continually remind me of the value of creative exchange — learning from communities around the world and bringing those perspectives back into the classroom.
Q&A
AVAILABLE FOR:
• Fashion & Textiles 1:1 — All Levels
• Portfolio Development — Foundation / BA / MA
• Womenswear Design & Development
• Fashion Illustration & Visual Communication
• Pattern Cutting & Garment Development
• Textile Exploration & Material Development
• Research, Concept & Design Development
• Sustainable & Responsible Design Practice
• International / Cross-Cultural Fashion Education
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TESTIMONIALS ***
“Salmena was an incredibly reliable and nurturing tutor who always helped me to the best of her ability. Her technical knowledge and deep well of cultural references were invaluable to both my personal growth and my design development. I doubt I would have survived my final year without her unwavering support and encouragement.”
Ryan Cowie - STUDENT
TESTIMONIALS ***
“Salmena’s attention to detail and deep knowledge of fashion and textiles is outstanding. She always took time to support me and her genuine care for her students truly set her apart. She is an exceptionally talented lecturer.”
Katrina Gillespie - STUDENT
