Our Staff
Andrew Groves | Course Director
Andrew Groves has been the Course Director for the BA Fashion Design course at Westminster since 2003.
Groves is remembered for his controversial catwalk shows at London Fashion Week during the 1990's. His first scheduled show, "Ourselves Alone" referred to The Troubles in Ireland, combining the colours of the rival factions of Irish unionists and Irish republicans. The models wore orange sashes, grey suits, and charred green taffeta, with one model apparently setting herself on fire during the show.
"Cocaine Nights", (based on J.G. Ballard's novel) had the models walking on a catwalk apparently spread with sugar-like cocaine. One dress was made of razor blades. At the time, Bill Clinton,had condemned the fashion industry for glamorizing drug use, so this was seen as deliberate provocation.
Groves is known for his tailoring, and worked as Head Assistant to Alexander McQueen for several years. In addition to his runway collections, he has created costumes for Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Suede, and The Spice Girls.
He has worked freelance as a creative consultant for fashion design companies in the UK and Japan, and as a design consultant for companies such as Nokia, Wedgwood, and The Coca-Cola Company.
Richard Gray
Fashion illustrator Richard Gray joined us in September 2006 and works with all years on their drawing, illustration and presentation skills. Richard Gray is a fashion illustrator who first collaborated with Anna Piaggi in 1988- the year her famous Doppie Pagine for Italian Vogue were invented.
He has worked on many projects with a variety of designers such as Agent Provocateur, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, De Beers, Boudicca, Julien MacDonald, Antonio Berardi, Miguel Adrover, Winni Lok and Benjamin Kirchhoff.
His editorial work has included, amongst others: Vogue Italia, Vogue Gioiello, Vogue Pelle, V Magazine, Io Donna, Sleek, Entertainment Weekly, The Sunday Telegraph Magazine, Madame Figaro ( including the cover), and the cover of Flaunt Magazine.
He has illustrated the couture shows for the Observer Magazine, and the Independent on Saturday Magazine.
He has created installations for the V&A's Anna Piaggi : Fashionology exhibition, illustrated the costumes for From Hell, the Hughes brothers' film starring Johnny Depp:, made his name as a recurring contributor to Vogue Italia, and drawn the unforgettable Agent Provocateur Sauce ads.
Robert Leach
Robert Leach was educated at Kingston University and graduated in 1981, has been in the fashion business for over 30 years, working first as designer in his own right, then in the field of styling and journalism; working for such visionary publications as the then fledgling i-D Magazine, in film and television and on major advertising campaigns.
He has been teaching since 1992 at Central St Martins, and since 2002, Robert has been employed by The University of Westminster on the BA (Hons) Fashion Design course.
He has worked alongside top fashion employers on student recruitment as well as on creative collaborations with lots of international fashion companies and design related institutions.
His first love is for visual research and his first book on the subject, The Fashion Resource Book; research for design was published by Thames & Hudson in August 2012. In it he explains the exciting process of researching for design to the young designer.
Interviews with leading contemporary designers and education professionals enable the reader both to understand the vital role of research and to discover the techniques the designers have adapted for themselves, whilst a richly illustrated profile of the major themes of fashion is a highly original resource for the reader to draw on for their own research.
Robert has recently begun work on his second book; a menswear edition of the Fashion Resource Book.
Kristina Gerdin | Final year tutor
Kristina Gerdin is our full-time, Senior Lecturer in pattern cutting and creative fashion design translation. She uses a variety of different pattern cutting methods including draping on the stand and drafting on the flat to help students understand both modern and traditional methods of pattern cutting to enable them to create contemporary directional fashion.
Hilary Tipping | First Year Tutor
Hilary Tipping is a Senior Lecturer in pattern cutting and creative fashion design translation at Westminster. She uses a variety of different pattern cutting methods including draping on the stand and drafting on the flat to introduce students to both modern and traditional methods of pattern cutting to enable them to create contemporary directional fashion. She is additional Year tutor for our first year students.
Her academic career has seen her teach students on a number of different courses including not only the degree course at Westminster but also The Royal College of Art, University of Central England and The University of Falmouth. Whilst at Westminster she has taught Stuart Vevers, Katie Hillier, Carrie Munden and Claire Barrow to name but a few.
Hilary continues to practice within the fashion industry and her experience ranges from Haute Couture to ready to wear having worked at a number of different companies including Nicholas Oakwell Couture, Boudicca, Jonathan Saunders, Mathew Williamson and Cos. She has also worked with Julian McDonald on the Girls Aloud tour, and with Stylist William Baker on outfits for Kylie Minogue including her famous gold hot pants.