London College of Fashion

London College of Fashion 's rich heritage, and responsiveness to changes in design practice, has positioned it as a leading global provider of fashion education, research and consultancy.

The College's work is centred on the development of ideas. Its staff and students use fashion alongside historical and cultural practice to challenge social, political and ethical agendas. A forward-thinking business and management portfolio, and relationship with the global fashion and lifestyle industries, reinforces the College's mission to "Fashion the Future".

We are constantly looking towards the future, identifying new ways of working, discovering new markets and learning new skills that will benefit our future fashion designers, garment technologists and cosmetic researchers. We have our past to thank for this forward-thinking.

Back in 1906, when the Shoreditch Technical Institute Girls School opened, and later the Barrett Trade School and Clapham Trade School, we trained young girls in the art of dressmaking, millinery, embroidery and hairdressing.

But this was no finishing school. We had the foresight to identify the skills needed in the fashion industry at the time and fashioned our teaching to service this need. For example, term finished in March, just in time for our students to walk into jobs preparing for the season's rounds of balls, parties and social events.

In the 1930s, and through the war, we realised the significance of the fledgling ready-to-wear market and trained our pupils accordingly. This radical approach to design education is as pioneering today as it was back then. It's what makes us unique, and we're not about to give it up.

We couldn't have picked a better location if we tried: Bond St, Savile Row, Soho and Great Portland St - London's very own garment district - all converge at John Prince's St. Where better to keep an eye on things?

Over the last 100 years we've learnt a lot and made a few friends along the way. Ex-students and industry allies are an important educational resource and one we nurture and protect. Guest lecturers, work placements and joint research projects are vital, as they keep us and our students in touch with the realities of business.

So where will the next hundred years see us? Who knows? That's what makes the future so exciting. One thing we can be sure of: London College of Fashion will be at the centre of things.