Royal College of Art Receives £150,000 Bequest from Alumna Anne Tyrrell's Estate

Anne believed in supporting wonderful, spirited and passionate young people by providing them with opportunity; she was a treasured member of the Fashion team at the Royal College of Art for many years, and a committed supporter of the College’s annual Fashion Show. Her bequest to the RCA will benefit up to eight Fashion students each year, for the next ten years. 

Anne’s career began with a diploma in Art & Design at the Norwich Art School. From 1957 to 1960 she studied Fashion at the Royal College of Art, during which time she began work as a pattern cutter. She went on to become Director of Design at clothing supplier John Marks, where she worked between 1963 and 1984. It was here that she first developed her own label collection, ‘Anne Tyrrell’ which grew to great renown as a leader in International Dress and Evening Wear field, supplying Europe, USA, Canada and the UK in volume. In 1980, Anne won Womenswear Designer of the year, and shortly thereafter set up her own London-based design consultancy, whose high-profile clients ultimately ranged from Nike, Next Retail, House of Fraser and John Lewis, to British Rail, The Orient Express and the London Underground. For the latter, Anne Tyrell designed the uniform, which was implemented in 2000. 

In 2008, Anne was awarded the MBE by her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to the British Fashion Industry. Other awards include an MA from the University of Creative Arts, Rochester (2008), a doctorate from the Norwich University of Arts (2013) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Graduate Fashion Week (2014).

Notably, Anne’s commitment to fashion had two sides: one as a practising designer in the Industry, and another in academic life as Senior Tutor and Visiting Professor at the RCA, as well as visiting assessor and lecturer at other Colleges and Universities of Art and Design throughout the UK. Her technical expertise and background as a designer and pattern cutter led her to foster an awareness of these skills as invaluable for the fashion business, and to promote skills training for craft and industry in the UK – leading to successful teaching initiatives at Nottingham Trent University, the Royal College of Art, London College of Fashion and Central St Martins.

Anne instigated further advancement within educational contexts after she was asked to become a member of the British Fashion Council in 1992: she suggested the formation of the BFC Student Forum initiative, which brought together all the heads of Fashion departments from leading UK Colleges and Universities, and successfully linked projects with companies such as Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley and ICEP-Portugal.

Anne, who served as Vice Chair of the British Fashion Council from 2000-7, has been described as one of the UK fashion industry’s most charismatic and influential figures. Simon Ward, COO of the BFC described Anne as ‘a unique advocate for British fashion education, tirelessly developing closer links between our world-class colleges and industry. A champion for the emerging talent and the future of fashion.’

The Royal College of Art is honoured and grateful to have both played a part in nurturing and benefited from Anne’s great talent and expertise, as well as her tireless commitment to higher education in fashion – with regards to industry and innovation alike. Her generous gift to the College will support a large number of students at the RCA over the next ten years, as well as serve as a reminder and celebration of her intellectual and creative legacy. Former students and staff recall her openness and generosity, the many ways in which she aptly understood the particular skills and contributions of individuals, encouraging them to develop their particular strengths to great and successful ends. 

Zowie Broach, Head of Fashion at the RCA, said: ‘Anne had a formidable energy about Fashion. The students and people she touched in her life felt that energy and support in many different ways, and that is now her continuum here at the RCA. We are very honoured to have received this gift and already see the same effect of her deep passion and belief in Fashion continue to ripple and extend.’