Hats Off At Putney High School

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As Philip Treacy visits to inspire the next generation at Putney High School

World famous hat designer, Philip Treacy visited Putney High School GDST yesterday to talk to a packed audience about his career as one of international fashion’s most well-known innovators, and brought with him original headwear he created for Isabella Blow, Sarah Jessica Parker and the Harry Potter films.

Treacy is a passionate advocate of the value of the Creative Arts in education and said: “Encouragement is everything in that crucial period between 11 and 18…your creativity is within you, you’ve just got to draw it out.”

He talked about how Great Britain is renowned worldwide for its design and creative industry and the importance of finding work you enjoy. “I’d never heard of a Foundation Course… I didn’t know what I was doing, I just loved doing it”.

Treacy studied at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin before moving to London to attend the Royal College of Art where he specialised in hat design and met and studied with Stuart McLaughlin M. Des, (ex. Valentino menswear designer) now head of a dedicated Fashion and Textiles Department at Putney High School and credited with leading a surge in popularity of pupils taking the subject at both GCSE and A Level.

December 6, 2017