Designed to Race
McLaren's Era-Defining Runway Collaboration with Central Saint Martins
Written By Phillipa Rodney
When we think about fashion trends or fans influencing motorsport, some of us might assume this influence only crept in at the start of the 2000s, when technology began advancing faster than we could keep up with, and when the ease of "accessing" drivers and people of influence became the norm. But in reality, fashion has shaped every era of F1, and this collaboration between Central Saint Martins and McLaren F1 brings together 46 up and coming designers to showcase those influences across five decades, from the '70s through to the 2020s.
CEOWorld Magazine has noted that Central Saint Martins (CSM) is ranked among the top five fashion schools globally and stands out in the industry for its reputation for pushing creative boundaries, innovation and experimentation. CSM is closely tied to London Fashion Week and counts Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney among its alumni, so if you're a creative weighing up where to apply, with programmes including BA (Hons) Fashion, Fashion Communication in Journalism & Image Promotion, MA Fashion, and MA Fashion Communication, this could be the place for you.
Credit: Ron Lach
Hosted at McLaren Technology Centre, the 46 Central Saint Martins students will be split into groups, each assigned a decade, to create looks for the Designed to Race show on Wednesday 16th September. The brief encourages designers to draw on past driver suits and team wear, pivotal liveries, key moments in McLaren's history and key engineering innovations, forging a strong link between technology and creativity.
The eras covered in Designed to Race: Front Row include:
'70s (Grit and Glamour): a time when aviators dominated fashion on and off the circuit.
'80s (Precision and Power): defined by the Senna/Prost rivalry and the classic Marlboro red and white liveries. Everyone loves the Ferrari red (Rosso Corsa), but Marlboro red might be the one…
'90s (Global Icon): when eyeliner hit the scene, and supermodels rose to power. Think back to simpler times, I’m talking Top of the Pops, the Spice Girls, Tommy Hilfiger and metallic silver jackets!
2000s–2010s (Engineering Athlete): the era of tightening regulations, when team and individual driver sponsorship became more prominent, with Vodafone logos spreading across liveries and the rise of athleisure.
'20s (The Papaya Era): whn sustainability took priority, driver sponsorship evolved into drivers building their own brands, and social media, influencer culture and fan engagement became more important than in any era before.
Credit: Vitaly Gariev
Designed to Race: Front Row will take place at McLaren Technology Centre on Wednesday 16th September, when the Centre transforms into a runway for one historic evening.
Two lucky McLaren Racing Club members will win tickets; click this link to enter the draw!
I don’t know about you, but I really hope to be there! In the meantime, I'll be sharing my own takes on fashion x racing across these five decades of McLaren history maybe I’ll finally learn the art of fashion sketching!? Follow our socials to find out…
Tiktok: @phillirodney | Instagram: @phillirodney
