Westminster Fashion Show at London Fashion Week

About Westminster Fashion

Our Story

Over 135 years of fashion education in London

Westminster Fashion traces its roots to the Harrow Technical School, founded in 1887. What began as art and design classes in north-west London evolved through the Harrow School of Art, Harrow College of Higher Education, and in 1990 merged with the Polytechnic of Central London — which became the University of Westminster in 1992.

Today, Westminster Fashion offers nine BA and MA programmes spanning the full breadth of the industry — from design and menswear to marketing, business management, sustainability, and manufacturing. Based at the Harrow Campus, the department combines a legacy of radical creative education with the professional rigour demanded by the global fashion industry.

1887

Founded

BA & MA Programmes

3,000+

Archive Garments

Heritage

A legacy of radical thinking

Vivienne Westwood studied at Harrow Art School in 1958, and the spirit of her boundary-breaking approach to fashion has run through this institution ever since. From punk to the avant-garde, Westminster has always championed designers who challenge the status quo.

In 2018, Westminster showed at London Fashion Week, establishing strong connections between fashion education and the industry. Our graduates have gone on to work at leading international fashion houses and luxury brands.

Philosophy

Industry-ready from day one

Under the leadership of Professor Andrew Groves — former senior design assistant to Alexander McQueen — the BA Fashion Design course was restructured to align with the international fashion calendar. The belief is simple: fashion education should mirror the pace, pressure and collaborative reality of the industry itself.

This approach extends across all programmes, from the creative intensity of Fashion Design and Fashion Photography to the analytical rigour of Fashion Business Management and Fashion Marketing. Every course connects theory to practice through live briefs, industry partnerships, and professional placements.

Research

Westminster Menswear Archive

Founded in 2016, the Westminster Menswear Archive is a leading public collection in the United Kingdom dedicated to menswear. Housed at the Harrow Campus, it contains an extensive collection of garments spanning more than 250 years of men's fashion and design.

The collection features pieces from Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Burberry, C.P. Company, Stone Island, Issey Miyake, Prada and A-COLD-WALL*, alongside rare examples of military, utilitarian and sporting garments. It serves as a vital research resource for students, academics and industry professionals.

Explore the Archive

MA Menswear

Leading menswear programme

Launched in 2016, the MA Menswear is a pioneering dedicated postgraduate menswear course. The programme shows at London Fashion Week Men's, giving students direct exposure to buyers, press and the global industry.

Together, the Archive and MA Menswear programme have established Westminster as a leading centre for menswear education and research.