The McLaren Mastercard F1 Team has commissioned 46 students from Central Saint Martins to turn six decades of it’s history into 12 original runway looks.
As part of a new campaign called Designed to Race and working in 12 groups, MA Fashion students have designed full concept looks inspired by defining eras of McLaren, spanning the colours and silhouettes of the 1970s through to today’s Papaya livery.
McLaren partner Dell Technologies became technology partner for the project, equipping students with laptops to research and develop their designs.
Some collections draw on recognisable driver aesthetics, including James Hunt’s overalls styling and Ayrton Senna’s yellow helmet.
Others take inspiration from the engineering principles behind Formula 1 itself, translating McLaren’s championship-winning cars and liveries, materials, construction techniques and aerodynamic forms, into garments.
“Formula 1 is influencing culture in ways we’ve never seen before today’s fans engage with the sport through fashion, music, design and social media as much as they do through what happens on the racetrack,” said Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer at McLaren Racing.
“Today one in three fans actively consider fashion and style as important in the way they want to express their fandom.
Working with Central Saint Martins has brought to life the connections between fashion and racing, allowing us to see our history reinterpreted in fresh and unexpected ways.
Louise McEwen
“Designed to Race explores that cultural influence through the eyes of the next generation of creative talent, who resolutely mirror our high-performance culture and commitment to detail.
“Working with Central Saint Martins has brought to life the connections between fashion and racing, allowing us to see our history reinterpreted in fresh and unexpected ways.”
The partnership will culminate in a fashion show at the McLaren Technology Centre, where student designs will be presented alongside pieces from the team’s history.
A limited number of tickets to the show, called Designed to Race: Front Row, will be available via a competition on McLaren Racing Club.
“This collaboration gave our students the opportunity to work with one of the most powerful brands in global sport, and one that has led the way in working with partners to design wearable, inclusive collections, which has connected fans with the team over a number of years,” said Fabio Piras, Course Leader for MA Fashion at Central Saint Martins.
“Beyond the design challenge itself, the collaboration has provided a platform for our MA students to develop their creative practice, collaborate across disciplines and present their work to a wider audience.”
The show takes place on 16 September, positioning McLaren’s Woking base as a fashion venue for one evening ahead of London Fashion Week.
