Fashioning Futures: How Fashion Education Can Impact Social Mobility

Cass Business School was pleased to host the 12^th Sir John Cass Foundation Lecture 2018 Fashioning Futures: How Fashion Education Can Impact Social Mobility on Wednesday 10^th October.  The Lecture was delivered by Professor Frances Corner OBE, Pro Vice-Chancellor University of the Arts London and Head of the London College of Fashion.

Speaking at the event, Professor Corner said her lecture said her lecture was intended to challenge any pre-conceptions of fashion and fashion education and explain why she believes that fashion education can, and does, affect social mobility.

“Our world needs diversity and creativity, and it is incumbent on us as educators to find ways to offer opportunities for all.  London College of Fashion’s future is centred on our commitment to bringing about real change and seeing economic, industrial and social transformation.  As an educational provider, we cannot do this alone, but we can highlight all of the dots, and we do intend to join them up.”

Richard Foley, Clerk and Chief Executive, Sir John Cass Foundation said:

“We are grateful to our friends here at the Cass Business School for hosting and supporting our lecture series.  We are delighted the Professor Frances Corner agreed to speak this evening and deliver her reflections on how fashion education can impact social mobility.”

Professor Sir Paul Curran, President, City, University of London said:

“In her expert and extremely thought-provoking exploration of the impact of fashion education on social mobility, Professor Corner amply demonstrated how she has earned her high reputation for championing the use of fashion as an agent for innovation and change.”

Professor Marianne Lewis, Dean, Cass Business School said:

“Access to education has been a Cass priority since our foundation in 1966 and we applaud the pioneering access work undertaken by both Professor Corner, the London College of Fashion and the Foundation.

“This is a subject close to our hearts at Cass where we run an extensive scholarship programme, including our Coca-Cola Global Women’s Leadership Scholarships, which are designed to support and accelerate the progression of underrepresented groups in society, giving them the financial assistance and skills that they need to survive in today’s modern global workplace.”

You can read an edited extract of Professor Corner’s lecture on her blog. Watch highlights of the lecture here.

The 2019 Sir John Cass Foundation Lecture will be delivered by Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall.