Is there a better place to study fashion than the
London College of Fashion? Its name alone already suggests that it's one of the best fashion schools in Paris, but what's so great about it? For one thing, it's an entire educational institution solely devoted to fashion and other related fields. Since the school was founded in 1906, the school has taught tailoring, dressmaking, embroidery, and millinery, among many others. The school has mastered teaching and training the craft of fashion over the years, adapting to the times along the way.
Source: UAL: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
History of London College of Fashion
The London College of Fashion traces its origins to the turn of the 20th century, beginning as a trade school for women. The institution was established as the Shoreditch Technical Institute Girls School in 1906, then became Barrett Street Trade School in 1915, and eventually the Clapham Trade School in 1927. Though it has seen various incarnations over the years, it nevertheless remained a
London school that teaches dressmaking, embroidery, women's tailoring, and millinery, among many others. Today, it now serves as one of the University of the Arts London's six constituent colleges, alongside Central Saint Martins, another of the
best fashion schools in London.
What Does The London College of Fashion Look Like?
Despite its extensive history, the London College of Fashion is now housed in a modern building at 105 Carpenters Road. It's located in East London, one of the more urban and busier
neighborhoods in London. For a school devoted to one art form and industry, the campus is fairly big, giving its students more than enough space to go all out with their designs. There are studios, ateliers, standard classrooms, and designated areas for exhibitions, fashion shows, and the like. Its minimalist design also serves as a great canvas for its creative students to expand their imaginations.
Source: UAL: University of the Arts London Facebook Page/ Helio Studio
The London College of Fashion Student Body
Unlike
the world's other fashion schools, particularly those that only teach fashion, the London College of Fashion has a large student body. The school welcomes around 5,000 students per year, spread within both its Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Do take note, however, that this 5,000 student body also includes returning students who have yet to graduate. A good portion of it also comprises international students, with enrollees coming from Europe, the US, Latin America, and Asia. It helps that, while the London College of Fashion isn't exactly easy to get into, it's far more accessible than Central Saint Martins.
London College of Fashion's Best Programs and Courses
There's no doubt that Fashion Design, whether it's undergraduate or postgraduate, is the London College of Fashion's best course. What's great about this course is that it's a mix of both traditional and modern lessons, allowing the students to come up with their own unique design techniques. With that said, the school's fashion business programs are nothing to scoff at either. The college offers undergraduate programs in fashion merchandising, marketing, and content creation, for example, while its postgraduate courses relate to sustainability, fashion analytics, and even applied psychology. The sky's the limit on what you can learn about fashion in this institution.
Source: UAL: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
London College of Fashion’s Prerequisites
As a constituent college of the prestigious UAL, the London College of Fashion has high standards for its enrollees. If you want to apply for any of its undergraduate programs, you need to at least have at least an A-level pass at Grade C or a Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferably in an art/design-related field), a well-curated portfolio, and IELTS level 6.5 proficiency in English (especially for international students). As for applying for postgraduate programs, you need at least a BA Honours degree in any related field, a well-curated portfolio, and IELTS level 6.5 proficiency in English too.
How Much Does It Cost to Study at The London College of Fashion?
It's no surprise that studying at the London College of Fashion will cost a lot of money. With its tuition fees alone, it can already cost you a minimum of £12,661.00 to a maximum of £30,000.00 per year. How expensive your tuition is will depend on the kind of program it is (undergraduate or postgraduate) and whether you're a UK or an international student. On top of all of that, there's still the £348.00 student visa fee you have to pay if you're coming from outside of the UK.
Source: UAL: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
Where is The London College of Fashion in The City?
As already mentioned, the London College of Fashion is located on Carpenters Road in Stratford, East London. It's one of the livelier urban areas in the city, serving as both a bustling business hub and an exciting commercial district filled with different hotspots. The place is a far cry from the more historic parts of London, even more so with Stratford's tall skyscrapers and bustling markets. The vibrant energy of the district makes it one of the best places to
rent a luxury apartment in London too. It has tons of great real estate and is a fairly safe place to live.
London College of Fashion's Famous Graduates
If you need further proof that the London College of Fashion is truly one of the best fashion schools in Paris, take a look at its alumni. The school has produced some of the biggest names in the industry today. Perhaps the best-known of them is Jimmy Choo, one of the most iconic shoe designers in the world. Supermodel Alek Wek also studied here, which contributed to her various collab with brands over the years. And don't forget about London-based designers Chris Liu and Robert Wun too. They're now among the most hotly anticipated names in the city's fashion scene today.
Source: UAL: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
You couldn't have asked for a better place to learn fashion than the London College of Fashion. Here, you'll be taught the tricks of the trade, the history of haute couture, and even how the industry works today. What's not to love?
