The London College of Fashion (LCF) at the University of the Arts London (UAL) will relocate to its new campus in the upcoming cultural district on London’s East Bank starting in September 2023. According to a press statement from the school, it will provide a cultural curriculum at the new
campus that honours the city’s creative population and encourages fashion education.
Beginning in September, LCF will hold yearly fashion seasons as part of its new cultural programme. These seasons will feature three to five fashion shows annually that have been selected by the school’s students, faculty, local community, and partners. The displays are free to attend.
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is home to London’s East Bank Cultural Quarter, which debuted this year along the Stratfordwaterfront. LCF hopes to encourage Londoners to visit the area, which seeks to promote innovation, creativity, learning, and growth, with its new cultural offering. In order to expand LCF’s fashion programmes and involve the East Bank’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its surrounding boroughs in learning, the programme will include graduate and postgraduate student fashion shows and collaborations with business partners on the East Bank, specifically, V&A
East Museum, Sadler’s Wells, UCL East, and the BBC.
According to LCF, it will consist of six projects, with the possibility of adding more: the festival programme “LCF Fashion Undressed” and the monthly conversation programme “LCF Sampled,” which involves students, staff, and the public. LCF Fashion Undressed will hold its inaugural event duringthe weekend of November 10 and 11 in honour of LCF’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion’s 15th
anniversary, examining fashion and fashion design through workshops, performances, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and social events. Thereafter, according to LCF, it will be a recurring occurrence.
The student graduate shows and exhibition in February 2024 and summer 2024, the exhibition “Making More Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain,” a follow-up to “Making Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain,” which is currently on view at Compton Verney Museum in Warwickshire, and, last but not least, the
evening programme “LCF After Dark,” which will build on the school’s programmes, are all additional components of the new cultural offering.
On the London East Bank’s new LCF campus, UAL will host a cultural programme. Observing the plans of the school Head of cultural programming at the London College of Fashion, Tamsin Ace, said in a statement: “London College of Fashion’s new home can only be a vital cultural destination if we
listen to our communities, both internally and externally, to inform our programming and create experiences that resonate, connect, and are relevant on a local, national, and international platform.”
She stated, “Through our programming, we hope to establish a location at East Bank known for addressing concerns surrounding fashion innovation and sustainability. “Our new public spaces and content, informed by our world-leading research teams and collaborative partners, will allow visitors to
freely explore these topics first-hand, and discover the immeasurable ways that creativity can change the world.”
Head of collegiate athletics and pro vice chancellor Andrew TeversonAt LCF, UAL added: “We will continue to pioneer how our world consumes and practises fashion design, media, and business as we move to our new home at East Bank, adjacent world-renowned cultural powerhouses, and define the
future of fashion.
He stated, “This objective will be hastened by exposing the work of our staff and students on a global level through London College of Fashion’s new Cultural Programme. The expansion of our long-standing engagement activity, which is based on the principles of social responsibility, sustainability,
diversity, and diligent learning, will also be made possible by this. Building audiences, fostering trust, and recognising the contributions of our outstanding teams and collaborators will all depend on the balance at the centre of the Cultural Programme.
Vice-mayor of London Justine Simons OBEShe continued, “East Bank is our capital’s biggest single investment in culture and education in over a century, and it is fantastic to see the Mayor’s vision come to life as our world-class institutions bring thousands of jobs to the area and opportunities for young
and emerging creative talent.”
We rely on the skill and creativity generated by our top fashion universities because London is a leading fashion capital. More than 6,500 students will attend the London College of Fashion’s new location in this magnificent building in the Olympic Park, helping to develop the next generation of creatives. What more wonderful way to commemorate this occasion than with this free cultural programme? events for Londoners and visitors to enjoy,” she concluded. UAL will kick off the LCF 2023-2024 cultural programme on September 6, 2023.
