The Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council Caroline Rush is to be made an Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and will give her Inaugural Professorial Lecture at the GCU British School of Fashion on Thursday, March 27.
In her lecture titled ‘The Evolution of British Fashion’, Professor Rush will examine how fashion has evolved over the past 20 years and anticipate how it will develop until the end of this decade, with particular focus on key industry figures and the “commercialisation of creativity”.
GCU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE said: “The GCU British School of Fashion is delighted and honoured to recognise Caroline Rush’s many achievements at the British Fashion Council through the conferment of an Honorary Professorship in Fashion Business. Caroline has been an outstanding advocate in support of British fashion talent. Her influence is truly global and her impact has been to enhance significantly the prospects of young professionals as they enter the fashion industry.”
The British School of Fashion will also announce the launch of two new Masters programmes and a new Women in Fashion research programme, building on its pioneering work to meet the evolving needs of a fast-paced industry.
“The British School of Fashion is developing pioneering courses to support the business of fashion which we hope will bring fresh perspectives to our fashion businesses. I am honored to accept the professorship and delighted to re-connect with my birthplace through the university.” - Commenting on her appointment as an Honorary Professor, Caroline Rush, CEO British Fashion Council
Professor Rush, who is originally from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, has led the British Fashion Council since 2009. Her appointment heralded the return of designers and brands including Burberry, Jonathan Saunders, Matthew Williamson, Preen and Pringle of Scotland to the London Fashion Week schedule.
Over the past years she has overseen the expansion of the BFC’s LONDON show ROOMS to cover new markets including Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York and Sao Paolo. In 2012, she worked with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to launch Britain Creates, and introduced London Collections: Men, Britain’s only biannual menswear trade showcase.
Professor Rush has also presided over the launch of talent initiatives including Headonism, Rock Vault, and BFC’s Fashion Film. During her tenure, the first in-depth, statistics-based reports on the fashion industry have been published. Professor Rush is listed in the Evening Standard Power 1000 List 2012 and 2013, and in the 2013 Business of Fashion’s 500.
The new programmes being introduced at the British School of Fashion include a Masters in Digital Fashion which will explore how technology is transforming the industry and how consumers and businesses engage. Graduates of the programme will lead the way in developing how fashion brands are created, promoted and experienced in a digital world.
A Masters in Fashion Business Creation will support the launch and development of new, innovative and sustainable fashion businesses. Blending cutting-edge research with the real-life experiences of entrepreneurs, the programme will develop students’ understanding of establishing and developing their own enterprises.
The School’s new Women in Fashion research programme will explore how the biggest and most economically significant buying sector influences fashion choices in most households and its implications for business. Commissioned by industry leaders, the research will focus on how women feel about their treatment by fashion businesses, how ageing and life experiences shape buying decisions, recognise and understand women’s contribution to the industry and understand where and why women are excluded from the industry.
Director of the British School of Fashion and GCU Assistant Vice Principal for Brand Development Professor Christopher Moore said:
“The new additions to our portfolio clearly demonstrate that GCU’s British School of Fashion is at the forefront of developments in fashion business post-graduate teaching and research. We have combined the very latest fashion business developments with cutting-edge academic thinking to generate challenging, relevant and worthwhile initiatives.”
For more information, please contact:
Charles McGhee
Head of Communications and Public Affairs
0141 331 8670
charles.mcghee@gcu.ac.uk
Image Credit: Caroline Rush at the British Fashion Awards 2013