The Westminster Alumni Collection
Every year, the Westminster Menswear Archive chooses at least one outfit from the University of Westminster's BA Fashion Design course to add to its collection of graduate work. Since 2018, this has been chosen from the runway show at London Fashion Week in February, where the final collections are displayed.
The first graduating class from the University of Westminster's MA Menswear course showed at London Fashion Week Mens in June 2018, and the archive has now begun to collect one outfit from a graduating student from the MA Menswear course to add to the archive. Robyn Lynch and Priya Ahluwalia were among the first graduate cohort in June 2018, and each designer has a runway outfit in the archive. Both designers have shown at London Fashion Week since graduating and have received the NEWGEN award.
In 2019, the chosen outfit was designed by San Kim and consisted of a transparent suit that inflated to encapsulate the model.
2020 - Dominic Huckbody
This is look three from Dominic Huckbody's graduate collection and was shown as part of the BA Fashion Design runway show on 14 February 2020 at London Fashion Week. Huckbody modelled the outfit, which included a light beige twill trench coat, dark navy jeans, a ruched black T-shirt, and a leather clutch bag.
Huckbody interned at Wales Bonner, Givenchy, and Martine Rose while studying at Westminster. After graduation, he went on to work for Burberry as a Menswear Design Graduate.
Coat
The trench coat is made of light beige twill in the front and tan twill in the back, both of which are stitched in white thread. It fastens to the right with large transparent plastic buttons, one at the right shoulder and two sets of two at the chest and waist. On the left side, there are four of the same buttons that do not fasten; the top three of these are sewn over patches of a button printed in white.
Jeans
The dark blue cotton denim jeans have a YKK zip fly and a metal button at the waistband. They have two front pockets with curved openings, with the left pocket in the centre and the opening over the fly. To the back, there are two patch pockets. The waistband features five belt loops and a large white cotton twill patch with a raw edge sewn to the right rear, with a cotton label patch in the centre. The hems are fraying and unfinished.
T-shirt
Black cotton round-neck t-shirt with two printed pictures on the front of teddy bears. The body and sleeves of the top are ruched with rows of elasticated stitching.
Leather bag
Small undyed leather bag with a handle and one-sided zip opening. At each end, there are two large silver-coloured metal rings. On one side, 'HUCKBODY / MADE IN LONDON' is stamped.
2019 - San Kim
This is look one of San Kim's collection shown as part of the University of Westminster MA Menswear graduate show at London Fashion Week Mens in June 2019 at the Oval Space, London.
Plastic suit
One-piece clear plastic inflatable overall suit with a separate orange plastic battery-operated fan. The suit is constructed from five plastic bags that form legs, arms, and a torso that also covers the head. It is held together with clear tape and has a zip-lock closure at the back. The fan fits into a hole in the back, and the bottom of the legs have foot-shaped innersoles. A label is taped to the edge of the zip-lock opening.
In addition to this outfit, the archive also required a further outfit that San Kim produced for the MA Menswear 2020 presentation that was shown online due to restrictions because of COVID-19. This was an inflatable garment covering the head and top half of the body made of green and white Waitrose plastic bags.
It had an oblong-shaped torso and long oblong-shaped arms. It has a long cone shape protruding from the front at the top with a round ball shape below. It is fastened together with tape and has a hole for a battery-operated fan.
2019 - James Harjette
This is look three from James Harjette’s graduate collection and was shown as part of the BA Fashion Design runway show on 15 February 2019 at London Fashion Week. The outfit consists of a brown twill stripe suit that has been overprinted with black flocking and is worn with a white cotton shirt.
Harjette interned at Matthew Miller, Tom Ford, and Haider Ackermann, while studying at Westminster. After graduation, he went on to work for Burberry as a Menswear Design Graduate.
Jacket
Brown twill stripe fabric tailored jacket with black flocking across the front of the body and sleeves printed in a diagonal pattern. It has a single-breasted construction, a narrow collar, and a lapel with a high break line. It has three black plastic buttons for closure and two angled flapped pockets at the hips. It has deep cuff vents and a centre back vent. It is lined in white finely woven cotton with striped cotton sleeves and has two inside chest pockets.
Trousers
Brown twill stripe fabric tailored trousers with a diagonal design of black flocking across the front. The flock print starts below the hips and continues in a curved line that matches the front of the suit jacket. At the back, there are two angled jetted pockets. The lining of the waistband and the pocket bags are made of cream twill cotton.
Shirt
White cotton long-sleeved shirt with narrow stand collar and bib front. It fastens with a concealed button placket front and seven small plastic buttons, as well as deep cuffs with two buttons each. The curved bib front has been topstitched with unfinished raw edges, except at the shoulders where it has been sewn into the shoulder seams. The shirt is made of the same cotton fabric that is used to line the outfit's jacket.
2018 - Megan Williams
This is look one of Megan Williams' BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate collection. This was the first time that undergraduates from the University of Westminster showed on the official schedule at London Fashion Week on 16 February 2018 at Ambika P3, University of Westminster.
Having worked for both Liam Hodges and Alex Mullins, Williams collection draws both on her love of technical menswear and also reference garments from the archive.
Jacket
Olive green-coloured satin nylon MA-1-style bomber jacket with silicone reinforced shoulders and built-in backpack. The jacket has raglan sleeves with lines of ribbed piping over each shoulder. It has a horseshoe-shaped line of wide white webbing over the front of the jacket which closes with a double tab white zip. The front has two large angled patch pockets with flaps and piped edges. The top of each sleeve has a 3-D box pocket. The hem and cuffs are finished with green ribbed fabric and the jacket features double stitching in white thread. It is lined in dark orange satin quilted in a square pattern.
Hooded Top
The main body of the top and the hood lining is made of white cotton twill. The raglan sleeves and outer layer of the hood are made of semi-transparent synthetic fabric. The cuffs and bottom edge of the top are white ribbing. There is a drawcord around the hood edge made of white plastic tubing and a drawcord around the hem made of transparent plastic tubing
Trousers
White knitted trousers that have a white ribbed waistband and cuffs and an exposed silver coloured metal zip at the centre front. There is a draw cord for the waist made of transparent plastic tubing with a metal stopper.
2018 - Robyn Lynch
Dublin-born menswear designer Robyn Lynch showed her graduate collection as part of the MA Menswear runway show on 12 June 2018 at London Fashion Week Mens. The outfit was look nine from collection and consists of an orange Ventile jacket, orange knitted jumper, and a pair of orange Ventile shorts. Lynch uses her Irish upbringing and culture as the base of the brand's ethos and inspiration, paying tribute to her roots with the youthful style of silhouette and traditional Irish cable knits.
In January 2019, Lynch showed as part of Fashion East at London Fashion Week Mens, and in June 2021 was awarded NEWGEN sponsorship by the British Fashion Council.
Jacket
Jacket with half raglan sleeves and an elasticated waistband in orange. The front of the jacket has a seam that runs across the chest from the sleeve seam. The front pocket features a flap that is top stitched to the jacket on the top edge and conceals a single welt pocket. A Ventile logo label has been inserted into the left side seam. The zip in the centre front is concealed by a flap. The interior has a fleece lining, a square patch pocket on each side, and a square facing in the centre back.
Jumper
Orange knit vest with three cables running down the front and back. The rest of the vest is a basket weave with a fully fashioned arm hole. The vest is finished with a rib on the hem and collar.
Shorts
Orange two-tone shorts with a fly front that closes with a zip fly and hook and bar in the centre front. The front of the shorts is flat until the hip point, at which point the shorts are elasticated around the back. The fabric in the centre front is a brighter orange Ventile fabric that runs across the back and creates a curve across the body. The remaining fabric is a darker orange, lighter weight fabric that is seamed at the hip point on the front with a line that curves outwards slightly.
2018 - Priya Ahluwalia
Priya Ahluwalia established her label Ahluwalia with her graduate collection which was shown as part of the MA Menswear runway show on 12 June 2018 at London Fashion Week Mens. This outfit was look three from the collection and consists of a deconstructed trench coat, a patchwork orange shirt, and a pair of reworked denim jeans.
She received the H&M Design Award in 2019 and was also a recipient of NEWGEN support from the British Fashion Council in June 2019. She was one of eight finalists for the LVMH Prize in 2020 and was named the British Fashion Council Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in 2021.
Deconstructed Trench Coat
Flat trench coat constructed from patchworked pieces of two trench coats and their linings. The main body of the coat is beige, with reworked collar, storm flap, pocket welts, and epaulettes. The rest of the garment is made up of patches of dark blue fabric and two different types of tartan lining fabric. The collar is worn over the head, and the coat has metal hook and bar fastenings at the neck, as well as two functional plastic buttons down the front. There is a short flap that sits behind the neck. The rest of the garment, including the sleeve shapes, is flat. The fronts and arms are lined in a lightweight dark blue fabric.
Shirt
Long-sleeved orange patchwork shirt made of five different plain and patterned orange shirt fabrics, including stripes and checked cotton. It has a turn-down collar and seven mother of pearl shell buttons on the centre front. Each cuff is secured with a mother of pearl shell button.
Jeans
The jeans are made of reworked mid blue denim that has been double stitched in orange. They fasten in the centre front with a YKK zip fly and a 'John Lewis' metal shank button. They have large patch pockets with rounded edges on the front, and each leg front has two curved panels. At the back, there are two patch pockets.
2017 - Nicholas Yip
Red Miltary Greatcoat
Shown as part of Yip’s graduate collection from the BA Fashion Design course at the University of Westminster, this red wool military greatcoat draws references to military detail and decoration.
The righthand side is covered in red and black rosettes reminiscent of military crosses and fastened using metal poppers, while the moiré ribbon is from Toye, Kenning and Spencer, who supply regalia and insignia to the military and the Royal Family.
The modular emblems are fastened using an eyelet-snap hybrid trim, which means they are interchangeable throughout all collection garments. It features moiré ribbon epaulettes at the shoulders that attached with the same eyelet-snap trim used throughout. The back has a centre back seam at the waist with a flared skirt and features a wide moiré ribbon band detachable with the eyelet-snaps.
Black Wool Trousers
Narrow leg black wool trousers with a wide red grosgrain moire stripe down each leg. They have a pintuck stitch down the centre front of each leg, side seam front pockets, and jetted back pockets. They fasten with a zip and are secured with a hook and bar. They are three-quarter lined in black viscose and feature a fishtail back panel detail complete with silver eyelets. There are two silver snaps at the front of the waistband, with all snaps and eyelets interchangeable throughout all garments of the collection.
2016 - Jack Byne
Jack Byne’s graduate collection that was shown at the 2016 BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate fashion show on 26 May 2016 at Ambika P3, University of Westminster, Marylebone. The selected outfit consisted of a Perfecto-style black leather jacket worn over a striped silk boned jacket and cropped black leather trousers. Graduating in 2016, Jack Byne had previously interned at both Calvin Klien and Louis Vuitton during his internship year.
Leather jacket
Short cropped black leather jacket with asymmetric zip fastening on the front and separate black leather belt with buckle. The jacket has a turndown collar with press studs, a small flapped pocket which fastens with a press stud at the left front waist and an angled inset zip pocket at the left chest. The jacket is designed to be tight-fitting and constricting.
Silk jacket
Single-breasted jacket made of wide striped yellow and grey silk. It fastens with one button centre front and has a peplum effect with inverted pleat inserts on either side of the centre back seam.
Leather Trousers
Black leather cropped trousers with silver coloured metal exposed zip front fastening. The backs of the legs have an opening at the back of the knee with a curved panel below and vertical silver-coloured zips inset at the top of the calves.
2015 - Robert Newman
Robert Newman’s graduate collection was shown at the 2015 BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate fashion show on 20 May 2015 at Ambika P3, University of Westminster, Marylebone. The runway look consisted of a hooded multipocketed coat, a distressed cotton canvas bomber jacket, a wool blanket poncho, and screen printed trousers.
Hooded coat
Cream and white distressed heavy cotton canvas coat with hood. The coat was garment-dyed before being lined and finished. The coat fastens centre front with a heavy black zip and has three pouched pockets with flaps across the front chest, two on one side of the zip and one on the other.
Bomber jacket
Cream and white distressed heavy cotton canvas bomber style jacket with black neoprene bands at cuffs, collar and hem. It was garment-dyed before being finished and lined. Fastens centre front with a heavy black zip and has two pouched pockets on the chest, one on each side of the zip.
Poncho
Cream wool poncho cape made of a recycled army blanket with four narrow blue stripes running vertically on the right side at front and back. It hangs longer at the back than the front and the hems are finished in cream blanket stitching.
Trousers
Cream cotton drill trousers with all-over organic black screen-printed design. They fasten with a zipped fly and a gold popper and the grown-on waistband features five very wide belt loops.
2014 - Alex Bottenberg
This complete catwalk ensemble from Alex Bottenberg’s graduate collection that was shown at the 2014 BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate fashion show on 22 May 2014 at Ambika P3, University of Westminster, Marylebone. The outfit consisted of a cotton check jacket with towelling applique detail on the front and back, a hand-knitted cotton jumper, and dark blue denim trousers.
Applique Jacket
Oversized check jacket with towelling applique detail on the front and back. The jacket is made from check tweed in pale lemon yellow, olive green and brown and has no vents but a yoke over the back shoulders. The jacket has two large patch poacher pockets with inverted vertical pleats and shaped flaps, one on each side of the centre front. The front applique decoration made of layers of red and blue cotton towelling and green wool felt which have been cut through to create the design. Around the ring is the phrase ‘Blue is Hard Kids’ and through the middle is ‘Bottenberg’.
Alex Bottenberg Sweater
Pale blue hand-knitted cotton jumper with a high round neck. It has two burgundy stripes around the top of the left arm and a large ‘A’ knitted into the front of the jumper. The ‘A’ is in cream purl stitch, and it has been outlined in burgundy plain knitting stitch.
Alex Bottenberg Denim Trousers
Extra-long wide leg dark blue denim trousers. They are finished with yellow double stitching, red bar tacks and copper coloured studs and buttons.
2014 - Adam Marc James
This is outfit five from James's graduate collection which was loosely based on the life of Henry Paget, the 5th Marquis of Anglesey, the collection re-imagines the Marquis as a 21st century man. The collection draws on the merging of soft loungewear separates with the security of high performance sportswear as he walks from his bed directly to the English countryside in the dead of night, plagued by his inability to sleep.
Cagoule
Camouflage print cagoule with hood and drawstring fastenings. The camouflage pattern has been printed, and a portion of it is reflective. The pattern's elements have been filled in by hand with gold and copper strokes.
Sequin trousers
Trousers made from fine mesh decorated with circular white plastic sequins which have been hand-painted/sprayed with a camouflage pattern in yellow, black and olive green. The top waistband and lining is made of cotton camouflage fabric and there is one rounded black patch pocket on the front which fastens with a gold metal coloured YKK zip. Part of outfit for Look 5 of James's graduate collection.
Cushion Bag
Bag in the form of a pillow or cushion embellished with machine embroidery. It has a brass-coloured metal handle and tassels from each corner. Part of look 5 outfit from James's graduate collection.
2013 - Arron Tubb
Aaron Tubb graduated from the BA (Hons) Fashion Design course at Westminster in June 2013. In the same year, he launched his own men's sportswear label, Bazar-14, which was carried by Selfridges in London, VFiles in New York, and IT in Hong Kong.
Jacket
Red cotton jacket with black and white printed design of words in Cyrillic lettering down each sleeve. The jacket design was based on military uniform jackets. It has a turn-down collar with a throat tab and fastens with a slightly off-centre zip. It has four pockets on the front - two patch pockets at the chest and two inset pockets at the hips. Each pocket has a pointed flap and a pointed tab over the flap.
Printed sweatshirt
White cotton fleece backed jersey sweatshirt top with all-over screen print design in red and black of blocks of words and lettering in Cyrillic. It has a round neck with a white high rib collar and white rib cuffs. The large scale print design is dominated by red blocks of colour with cut-out lettering showing as white. The black lettering design is then overlaid on top
Trousers
Black nylon trousers with a wide elasticated waist and wide white panel stripes down the outside of each leg to the knee. They have a padded interlining and are lined in the same black fabric as the outer part. Each hip has a vertical opening pocket.
Scarfs
Black, white and red scarf, jacquard knitted in the style of a football scarf with a fringe at each end. It has thick black and red angled lines with sections of Cyrillic lettering in white and black. The phrase 'Some People Are So Poor / All They Have Is Money' in black capital lettering runs down each side.
