LCF YEAR OF THE WOMAN

LCF Year of the Woman is a year-long programme of activity led by London College of Fashion, UAL, to celebrate the centenary of Women’s Suffrage in the UK and the passing of the 1918 Representation of the People Act.

Frances Corner (2018-02-28)London College of Fashion

Frances Corner - Head of College

In many ways London College of Fashion's history has contributed to the emancipation of women – over time we have seen an increase in women running their own businesses. Fashion is an industry dominated by women, with over three quarters of garment workers being women, and their exploitation remains one of the industry’s most significant challenges. And this is why we believe strongly in supporting women’s rights. At the college we believe in using the power of fashion to help drive social change.

First Dressmaking Room 1915 (1915) by UnknownLondon College of Fashion

Our history

At 112 years old, London College of Fashion, UAL has provided education to young women and girls since before women won the right to vote. Our origins are three Trade Schools, teaching girls as young as 12 skills such as dressmaking, millinery, embroidery and hairdressing, alongside typical secondary school teaching such as Maths and English.

Fashion show, 1934 (1934) by UnknownLondon College of Fashion

Evacuation by UnknownLondon College of Fashion

Better Lives projects

In 1918, the Representation of the People Act gave the first British women the right to vote and stand for public office. One hundred years on, in order to celebrate the centenary of female suffrage in the UK, we have created #LCFYearofTheWoman - a year-long programme of activity which will include: a series of panel debates on current feminist issues; an exhibition ‘Motive / Motif’ based on the 1912 handkerchief embroidered by, and with the names of Suffragette prisoners at Holloway Prison; and, finally, a series of ‘pop up’ performances featuring suffragette characters, created by a group of our BA Costume for Performance students.

Emmeline Pankhurst, PROCESSIONS 2018. © Artichoke - Cream (1) (2018-03-15)London College of Fashion

Processions - the right to vote

Artichoke are inviting women and girls across the UK to come and mark this historic moment as part of a living portrait of women in the 21st century. LCF will be producing a banner as part of this.

UN Orange Label: Fashion Says No to Violence Against Women - winner 2016 Fang Su Jun (2016) by Fang Su JunLondon College of Fashion

UN Orange Label: Fashion Says No to Violence Against Women

The Orange Label Project, run and supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, and London College of Fashion, UAL, is an annual project to engage and connect the issue of violence against women with new audiences, particularly young people, through a series of creative activities. The project began in 2016 and in 2017 the UN Trust Fund awarded London College of Fashion its inaugural Orange Heart award for this work. This project sits under the College's Better Lives agenda, using fashion to drive change.

The Orange Label: Fashion Says No to Violence Against WomenLondon College of Fashion

Moka and Kiko - a film by Despoina Zachariadou for UN Orange Label ProjectLondon College of Fashion

Moka and Kiko - a film by Despoina Zachariadou - one of the 2017 winners for UN Orange Label: Fashion Says No to Violence Against Women

A film by Pippa Smart - one of the 2017 winners for UN Orange Label: Fashion Says No to Violence Against Women

To The Ones Who Tried to Change Us - by Akina Chan for UN Orange Label Project, From the collection of: London College of Fashion
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To The Ones Who Tried to Change Us - one of the 2017 winners for UN Orange Label: Fashion Says No to Violence Against Women

Mirror Mirror: When Is Ageing Fashionable? (2013)London College of Fashion

LCF is committed to representing and supporting women of all ages in fashion. Here Associate Lecturer in Cultural and Historical Studies and Dress Historian Amber Butchart talks about ageing and fashion.

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1000 Coats is a collaborative project between artist Whitney McVeigh, Fellow in Creative Practise at London College of Fashion, UAL and communities in East London and was instigated by the social responsibility team at London College of Fashion, UAL. The project is supported by iconic British luxury fashion house Burberry. Working with up to 100 women from the boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney, equipping them with the skills to make 1000 coats, the garments created will then be gifted to local children.

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We work with the Ministry of Justice on Making for Change; a fashion training and manufacturing unit established in 2014 at HMP Holloway; it moved to its new home of HMP Downview in summer 2016, where it nearly doubled in size. The project aims to increase well-being and reduce reoffending rates amongst participants by equipping them with professional skills and qualifications within a supportive environment.

Conscious Contemporary Tailoring (2017-11-22)London College of Fashion

Supported by the Zegna Foundation and facilitated by the Social Responsibility department at LCF, Conscious Contemporary Tailoring brings communities together: the women of the weaving department at San Patrignano, the women of LCF’s Making for Change project and BA Menswear students.

LCF MA18 Womenswear Jiali Lu (2018-01-05) by Jiali LuLondon College of Fashion

Next generation

LCF today remains an essentially women’s college - 85% of our students are female and many of them are politically engaged. Women are at the core of both the college and the fashion industry. Here we explore the ways in which our female students are positively impacting society.

MA18: Graduate Spotlight: MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear with Vicky Leung by Vicky Leung and Alyssa BoniLondon College of Fashion

England has the most traditional and famous tailoring knowledge and technique, and I have been fascinated by this delicate and professional tailoring since I moved to London for my studies. I researched a lot and looked into all the details on a suit to try to think about how to combine this traditional element with something fresh or unexpected. - Vicky Leung, MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear 2018

SUKEBAN: ADÉ by Wami by ADÉ by WamiLondon College of Fashion

New wave feminist publishing

MA Fashion Media Production students from LCF are tackling gender issues head on, through print and digital publications, collaborating with female photographers and creatives and deconstructing the male gaze. Sukeban Magazine, for example, formed in Tokyo, Japan in December 2016 by Yuki Haze and LCF MA Media Production graduate Erika Bowes, due to a feeling of alienation and disillusion in the fashion industry. 

SUKEBAN: New storms for old lovers by Noelia Carballo, Jaymoon Park & Jaeyoon Lim by Noelia Carballo, Jaymoon Park & Jaeyoon LimLondon College of Fashion

SUKEBAN: New storms for old lovers by Noelia Carballo, Jaymoon Park & Jaeyoon Lim, SUKEBAN MAGAZINE

SUKEBAN: Aweng by Eve Power, Kashmir Wicks and Bernadette Krejci (2018-02-01) by Aweng by Eve Power, Kashmir Wicks and Bernadette KrejciLondon College of Fashion

Aweng by Eve Power, Kashmir Wicks and Bernadette Krejci, SUKEBAN MAGAZINE

Elisabeth Krohn- Sabat - She is of the Woods (2018-02-28)London College of Fashion

Listen to New Wave Feminist Publishing at LCFMA18 Media and Communication exhibition 2018 here

The Other Magazine by Nateisha Monique Scott by Nateisha Monique Scott and 2018London College of Fashion

Manchester-raised Nateisha Monique Scott is just about to graduate from her MA Fashion Journalism degree at London College of Fashion. The talented writer has used her LCFMA18 project to celebrate women of colour in the beauty industry by creating a magazine with a powerful message. Find out more

BA (Hons) Fashion Textiles: Knit (2016) by LCFLondon College of Fashion

What is next?

Over the last 100 years there have been great changes for women. But as the recent disputes at the BBC and the problems that the #MeToo generation are highlighting – our fight is far from over. At London College of Fashion we believe passionately that fashion is so much more than the clothes we wear. It can be used as a force for real change. We want to utilise the power of fashion to continue to fight for the rights of women and girls. We hope you will join us.

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Visit http://www.arts.ac.uk/fashion/events-open-days/lcf-year-of-the-woman/

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