Royal College of Art is 'Global Number One' for MA Fashion

The news follows a landmark year for RCA Fashion, with Zowie Broach taking over as head of the Menswear and Womenswear programmes, building on the exceptional reputation crafted by predecessor Professor Wendy Dagworthy. Broach’s arrival has brought RCA Fashion into a new era, as illustrated by the 2015 Graduate Fashion Show – a critically acclaimed choreographed presentation which heralded RCA Fashion’s approach as a step-change within the industry.

The Business of Fashion’s Global Fashion School Rankings are evaluated on three key areas; Global Influence; Learning Experience; and Long-term Value. In the study, the RCA’s overall score was a sector-leading 95 per cent, with teachers and peers ranking at 92 per cent satisfaction. The RCA is one of three London institutions to feature in the top five, ahead of Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion, highlighting London’s standing on the global fashion stage.

RCA Fashion has a long history of teaching some of the UK’s most successful names in fashion. Iconic fashion designers such as Zandra Rhodes and Anthony Price were at the heart of RCA fashion success in the sixties. In recent years, Philip Treacy sparked a new era of millinery, followed by Maiko Takeda, who graduated in 2014 and went on to design magnificent headpieces for Bjork’s 2015 Vulnicura tour and album cover.  RCA graduates have also been a powerful force at London Collections Men with young designers such as Matthew Miller and Astrid Andersen building international acclaim. RCA Womenswear graduates have also risen to iconic status, as exemplified by Erdem and Holly Fulton. In 2014 RCA graduate Christopher Bailey took over from Angela Ahrendts as CEO of fashion giant Burberry.

Zowie Broach said: 'I am truly excited about the RCA’s latest cohort of ‘thinkers’ – to be a part of their language and questioning as they approach new frontiers in the meaning of fashion. Insofar as aesthetics leading the individual's identity; economically with new business models; and socially as far as ethics, value and meaning, education is a precious part of that and all of our culture globally. Here at the RCA we are thrilled to be ranked number one, and spurred on to continue to take fashion forward into a very present, vibrant society of design.'

The Business of Fashion announcement is the latest in a series of major accolades for the RCA this year, having been named the world’s leading university of Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings, and recognised as the highest ranked specialist art and design university in the UK by the REF (Research Excellence Framework) earlier in the year.