Where Bespoke Tailoring Meets Industry
- Written byJimena Rascon Azanedo
- Published date 23 January 2026
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London has been at the centre of bespoke tailoring for centuries, and our BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring course is rooted in that living tradition, supporting students to become the tailors of the future.
With Savile Row – the historic home of British tailoring – just a short distance away, our students are surrounded by the craft, culture and industry that continue to define luxury menswear and bespoke practice today.
Through guest speakers, live projects, placements and trips, industry engagement is embedded throughout every year of the course. From the earliest stages of their studies, students are encouraged to engage with the realities of bespoke tailoring, luxury cloth and heritage fashion.
Curious to see what life as a bespoke tailoring student at LCF really looks like? Read on to discover how these experiences help students build industry awareness, confidence and the professional skills to become the next generation of tailors.
Guest speakers and industry insight
Throughout the course, our students learn directly from the people shaping the industry. These industry professionals bring contemporary practice into the studio environment, sharing their valuable industry expertise.
Some of our students’ favourite guest lectures have been delivered by our very own alumni, who have returned to LCF to share their career journeys, offering valuable insight into the path from study to industry.
Leading cloth suppliers, Dugdale Bros & Co, support our students through high-quality cloth donations and guest lectures, giving students the opportunity to work with exceptional material. Recent graduate Anna Wood – who graduated in 2024 – secured a role in Dugdale Bros & Co. as a result of our collaboration with the company.
Live industry projects
Live projects are at the heart of the course, allowing students to respond to real industry briefs and collaborate with renowned brands and leading professionals.
Final year students, for example, have worked on a long-running collaboration with Hainsworth, pitching original ideas for jacquard weave designs. Winning entries received eight metres of cloth woven to their own design to be used within their final collections.
A new strand of the project has introduced collaboration with our embroidery students, with additional plain cloth donated per student pairing to support experimental, craft-led outcomes. Some student work has also been featured on Hainsworth’s social media, providing valuable industry visibility before they leave LCF.
Second-year students have also taken part in a live project with Huntsman through the Future Artisans unit. This collaboration has included masterclasses at Huntsman’s Savile Row store, studio visits and competitive prizes, with first, second and third-place awards. For some students, the project has led to further professional opportunities, including short placements, demonstrating just how much live industry engagement can open doors and shape future careers.
Placements and professional experience
Professional experience plays an important role in supporting our students’ progression into the industry. Around 70% of bespoke tailoring students choose to undertake a placement during their studies, working across tailoring houses, cloth suppliers and luxury fashion brands.
This experience helps students to develop workplace skills, build professional confidence and establish industry networks. For many, placements have led directly to graduate roles, with students securing employment ready for post-graduation.
Trips, visits and industry access
From Year 1 onwards, trips and visits give students the chance to bring studio learning to life and see bespoke tailoring in action. Previous examples include a visit to cloth suppliers Holland & Sherry, where our students gained first-hand insight into materials, processes and heritage craftsmanship.
Every November, the course also hosts an in-house cloth fair, where a range of suppliers showcase their latest fabric collections. Open to all bespoke tailoring students, the fair offers hands-on access to cloth, direct engagement with industry professionals and an opportunity to build relationships that support future projects and professional development.
Looking ahead
Through this combination of guest speakers, live projects, placements and industry engagement, BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring at LCF offers students a truly hands-on, industry-focused learning experience. Graduates leave London College of Fashion with confidence in their craft, a portfolio informed by real materials and real briefs, and the experience needed to contribute to the future of bespoke tailoring and luxury fashion.
- Learn more about BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring
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