University of the Arts London Awarded With Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Environmental, Social Sustainability
LONDON — University of the Arts London, the university that includes Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion in its portfolio, has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for higher and further education with a focus on the university’s drive for environmental and social sustainability.
The award is handed out every two years to universities and colleges across the U.K.
“Challenging fashion’s status quo is at the heart of the work we do at Centre for Sustainable Fashion. It is fantastic to be recognized for the important work that every person involved in the center is doing to create a fashion system that places Earth and equity at its heart,” said professor Dilys Williams, director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion and chair of UAL Social Purpose Advisory Group.
“Our guiding principle is to transform fashion from a sector where profit is gained through extraction and exploitation to one where wealth is recognized in environmental, social, cultural and economic terms,” she added.
The university’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion is based in Stratford, where research takes place. The center has worked with the likes of Alexander McQueen and Gucci.
The Queen’s Anniversary Prize also shed light on UAL’s Portal Centre for Social Impact, which has a program called Making for Change that tackles community engagement and social impact initiatives.
“By bridging the gap between academia and the fashion sector through our teaching, research and industry partnerships, we have demonstrated a long track record of using creative education as a tool for positive social and environmental impact, showing that caring for others and the planet is at the core of who we are,” said Polly Mackenzie, chief social purpose officer of UAL.
