Students studying on our UAL Extended Diplomas in Fashion, Textiles and Costume recently visited Bowes Museum to see the highly anticipated Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary exhibition. Fashion Lecturer Polly Clarkson said the trip “provided a powerful lens through which students could engage with fashion and clothing as both an artistic practice and a vehicle for cultural commentary. The students found it a truly inspiring and industry-relevant experience.”

“From the moment they entered the exhibition, students were immersed in Westwood’s world: bold, political, innovative, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship. The trip not only enriched their subject knowledge but also enabled them to develop key employability skills essential for careers in the creative industries.”

Fashion first-year students researched Vivienne Westwood’s relevance in regard to their current live runway project with Teesside Hospice, where they are creating up-cycled garments inspired by British subcultures.

First-year student Leon McQueen commented, “Vivienne Westwood is like a gateway for aspiring designers and is who most people associate with British fashion, so getting to see her work up close was very inspirational. It gave me a load of ideas for what I could do with up-cycling and techniques with denim for my project.”

Polly said, “Students developed key employability skills during the exhibition by engaging in critical thinking and visual analysis, evaluating garments beyond their appearance to consider meaning, context, and social impact. The experience fostered professional curiosity and initiative, encouraging students to ask questions, seek inspiration, and connect their own creative practice to industry standards.”

The experience was a fantastic opportunity for our Fashion, Costume and Textile students as it highlighted the importance of traditional craftsmanship, allowing them to closely examine advanced pattern cutting, precise tailoring, and innovative print and textile use. Westwood’s attention to quality and detail reinforced that strong technical skills are essential for creative success, helping students connect these insights to their own work and recognise the value of continually developing their practical making abilities.

UAL Fashion first-year student Lexie Howe said, “I love Vivienne Westwood and have been looking at her throughout my work, not only with design but also with how she tailors fabrics on the body. Now that I have an understanding of pattern cutting and sewing, it was interesting to be able to see her most famous garments up close and really appreciate the work that goes into them.”

The exhibition’s diverse collection also offered our specialist Fashion Communication & Marketing pathway students a unique insight into how fashion operates not only as clothing but as a powerful form of communication. Westwood’s distinctive aesthetic, which is rooted in punk culture, disruption, and political commentary, was translated into editorial photography and advertising campaigns. They explored how styling, composition, and art direction communicate a brand’s ethos, often challenging traditional notions of beauty and commercial fashion imagery.

The museum environment also encouraged students to observe the finer details of display styling, curation, and presentation. From lighting to layout, every element demonstrated how visual merchandising can influence audience perception — a key concept in fashion marketing and branding.

First-year Costume student Grace Hall reflected, “I loved how the exhibition was put together. Vivienne Westwood’s garments paired with the paintings and rooms of The Bowes made it feel like a set. Seeing the corsets and dresses up close was really inspiring.”

A standout aspect of the visit was the opportunity to engage with ED Textiles alumna Catherine Dickinson (Production Coordinator), who, after completing her studies with the college, progressed into a professional apprenticeship at The Bowes Museum. She offered valuable insights into the exhibition as a curated space, explaining how Westwood’s garments and accessories were thoughtfully selected and displayed alongside existing Bowes artefacts to highlight the connection between her work and traditional British heritage.

This experience gave students a deeper understanding of careers in museum curation, exhibition design, and fashion heritage management, broadening their awareness of the diverse pathways available within the Fashion, Costume and Textile industries beyond design.

“Seeing an ex-student from our course work on and curate the exhibition was amazing and definitely made me think about opportunities after college,” said Textiles student Alisha Mistry. “It was inspiring to see how multi-disciplined Vivienne Westwood’s work is, especially with the print and fabric manipulation she uses.”

Research trips like this underpin our diploma programmes, which focus on developing skills and connections to industry professionals and partners, to give our students the opportunities and experiences needed to prepare them for their industries and higher education. Find out more about our UAL Extended Diploma in Fashion here.