Where Art Meets Fashion: Alumni Collaborations

Feb. 18, 2025

With London Fashion Week coming soon, we are revisiting the inspiring collaborations between our alumni from The Drawing Year and some of the world’s most iconic fashion houses. From intricate embroidery to statement prints, covering everything from scarves to unique couture creations.

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Holly Mills x Burberry (2024)

Luxury British fashion house Burberry has launched a new collection of scarves and trench coats in partnership with Highgrove Gardens. For this collection, artist and Drawing Year alumna Holly Mills created stunning floral illustrations inspired by King Charles III’s private gardens. Her designs, featuring wildflower meadows in full bloom and the King’s favourite flower, delphiniums, are incorporated into the linings of the classic Castleford trench coat. The collection is available in two versions: Ivy with a wildflower printed silk lining, and Hunter with a delphinium-inspired lining.


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Pollyanna Johnson x Dior (2024)

Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Cruise 2025 collection for Dior celebrated the powerful ties between the fashion house and Scotland, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Drummond Castle. As part of the collection, Chiuri collaborated with Pollyanna Johnson, whose ceramic work depicting Mary, Queen of Scots, was reimagined as a bold graphic statement on a leather dress. This collaboration reflects Johnson’s deep engagement with historical narratives, brought into a contemporary fashion setting.


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Alice Shirley x Hermès (Since 2012)

Since 2012, artist Alice Shirley has been a regular collaborator with Hermès Paris, creating exquisite silk scarf designs, as well as artwork for jewellery, beachwear, homeware, and children’s collections. Her work has also been featured in special commissions and touring events such as the Hermès Carré Club in New York, Milan, Singapore, and Paris. Shirley’s bold, bright, and intricate illustrations continue to bring a unique artistic vision to one of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands.


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Beth Rodway x My Sleeping Gypsy (2024)

Sustainable fashion label My Sleeping Gypsy launched a collection titled Glasshouse, inspired by the intricate patterns in Beth Rodway’s artworks. The brand, known for blending Ukrainian Vyshyvanka traditions with modern design, incorporated Rodway’s distinctive aesthetic into their signature embroidered dresses. The result is a collection that seamlessly fuses art, heritage, and sustainability, transforming traditional craftsmanship into wearable objects of art.


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Sammi Lynch x Burberry & Highgrove (2023)

British artist Sammi Lynch collaborated with Burberry and Highgrove Gardens to create a series of limited-edition silk scarves. Each design was inspired by the changing seasons and key elements of the Highgrove estate, from topiary yew hedges to creeping buttercups. Crafted from 100% organic Mulberry silk, these scarves celebrate British heritage, nature, and artistic craftsmanship, reflecting Lynch’s talent for capturing the nuances of landscape through painting and printmaking.