British fashion stars to be honoured by University of the Arts London

Stella McCartney, Lulu Guinness, David Downton and catwalk

photographer Chris Moore are to be awarded honorary degrees by University of the Arts London. Each fashion luminaries will be recognised for their outstanding contribution to the industry at the University’s graduation ceremonies at the Royal Festival Hall later this month.

Stella McCartney will receive her Honorary Fellowship and address the audience at Central Saint Martins ceremony on July 18; David Downton will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate at London College of Fashion’s ceremony; and Lulu Guinness will be receive her Honorary Doctorate in absentia at London College of Fashion’s ceremony.

Lulu Guinness famed for her playful and iconoclastic accessories design, said: “I am extremely grateful to University of the Arts London for awarding me with this Honorary Doctorate, I did not have a formal training in handbag design so this makes this extra special.”

In receiving the accolade, they join an impressive list of fashions finest to be honoured by the University including Giorgio Armani, Alexander McQueen, Vidal Sassoon , Suzy Menkes, Mario Testino, Harold Tillman, Jimmy Choo, and Rosita Missoni.

Other figures honoured by the University this year include actor Colin Firth (Honorary Fellowship), artist Yinka Shonibare (Honorary Fellowship), physicist and creator of the World Wide Web Prof Sir Tim Berners-Lee (Honorary Doctorate), and Turner Prize-winning artist Tony Cragg (Honorary Fellowship).