The Fashion School Manchester

Meet our brilliant team

Caroline Gration, MA, Director

I was a very arty kid who loved style, but I couldn’t sew, and this frustrated me as I couldn’t manifest all of the designs I drew onto paper. Subsequently, I thought I could never be part of the fashion world I dreamed about.

The Fashion School is now 10+ years old, and my passion is based on my experience as a little girl. The concept danced around in my head for 10 years prior to opening in the back of my flat, while I worked within the industry as a designer, illustrator, design production manager, and consultant. My career spans over 35 years, plus another 6 years of education. Yep, that long! Much of that time was also spent as a senior and visiting fashion lecturer. I enjoyed the mix of industry and education and brought this ethos to the Fashion School. Creativity! Skills! Knowledge!

My children are both very grown up: Betty is a haematologist, and Céleste is a graphic designer at The Financial Times. I’ve always felt at my happiest now that they’ve grown, surrounded by the laughter of your children and teenagers as they build upon their skills, learning to sew, pattern cut, and make their sustainable ideas a reality. They help steer my ideas as we move forward together. Fashion means something different to each of your glorious young creatives, and I celebrate their individuality. Thanks to you, I have the best job ever.

We're always on the lookout for talented tutors to run our classes and workshops in Manchester. If you have a degree in Fashion/Textile Design and some experience teaching children, we would love to hear from you!

Led by Niamh and Helen

Niamh

Lead Tutor (BA Hons)

Hi there, I’m Niamh, one of the head tutors for the Manchester team, and in house creative. I’ve been part of the Manchester team since the Fashion School began its journey up north, and it’s been a pleasure to see it grow and develop since the start.

I’ve always wanted to be a fashion designer, ever since being a child. I would spend hours playing with my dolls, doodling dress designs and draping myself with scarves from my gran’s wardrobe- and now I’ve made it my career!

I obtained my fashion degree at Kingston University and also spent time studying abroad. Since graduating in 2019, I have worked in multiple fashion studios, in different European countries, where I have gained skills and knowledge of the industry, leading towards recently launching my own fashion label.

I also have a lot of reworking and up-cycling experience, which lends itself nicely to working with The Fashion School, having collaborated with Age UK to create a fully up-cycled fashion collection, as well as working as a rework seamstress for Cow vintage.

Helen

Lead Tutor (BA Hons)

'Hi, my name's Helen and I am a sustainable freelancer Designer and educator. I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a BA Honours degree in Fashion Design & Technology.

Since then, I have worked in various roles within the industry, from manufacturing in Manchester in the early 2000s, Design work for independent brands, freelance CAD roles and leading sewing workshops. All before deciding to pass on my knowledge and experience through teaching in 2017. Firstly, at Manchester colleges, then onto University education.

Sustainability has and always will be at the core of everything I do in fashion, and this led me to working for The Fashion School. I completely understood and connected with the ideas and vision The Fashion School creates. I have always said "you cannot design anything, if you do not know how to make it". I love being able to pass on fundamental skills in pattern cutting, sewing, design, illustration and much more in the creative and exciting environment the fashion school provides. I feel like I am doing my part for the future generation of fashion.

Meg

Tutor (BA Hons)

Hey guys, my name is Meg, I’m a proud graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University and studied fashion design for 3 years. Being a fashion designer has always been my goal, creating weird and wonderful shapes through garment construction excites me. After University I set up my own brand ‘Make It Wet’ which is inspired by life near the sea and focus on my love for fishing for mackerel. Having my own brand inspires me to create bold prints using unusual textures.

I’m honoured to work at The Fashion School, spreading creativity and creative skills to children is so important for them to understand the fundamentals of fashion. My approach to teaching is allowing the kids to understand the full creative process. Allowing them to really push their designs through drawing, to then showing them how pattern cutting can be simple. Each week I’m so proud of what the kids create, I can’t wait to see how the younger generation push the boundaries of fashion!

Jess

Tutor (BA Hons)

Hi! I'm Jess, I've worked at The Fashion School Manchester for about a year. I discovered my love for dressmaking as a child during sewing lessons, and this passion has only grown over the years. For over a decade, I’ve been making my own clothes, which led me to pursue a BA in Fashion (Womenswear) at the Manchester Fashion Institute, where I graduated this summer with a first-class degree. My graduate collection reflected my commitment to sustainability, crafted entirely from 100% post-consumer textile waste.

My personal design practice is deeply rooted in sustainable material sourcing and upcycling, which inspired me to launch my own unisex slow fashion brand in 2023. This brand focuses on transforming discarded festival tents into unique apparel and accessories, combining creativity with environmental consciousness. I’m thrilled to bring my skills and passion for upcycling to The Fashion School Manchester, inspiring the next generation of sustainable makers to embrace innovative and eco-friendly design!

More fantastic tutors & assistants in Manchester

Lucy

Tutor (BA Hons)

I am a multi-disciplined designer, pattern cutter and maker. I have over twenty years experience in the industry. I have previously launched and run my own ladieswear label, worked as a designer for a number of big brands and designed and created bridalwear. More recently, I have been teaching and tutoring my own classes and workshops and working in a college as a design tutor. I have a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Design with Marketing, Manufacture and Promotion. I now love sharing my knowledge and expertise with enthusiastic teens and adults.

Remerah

Assistant

I am a fashion student, currently completing my level 3 qualification. I absolutely love and adore fashion! It’s my way of expressing myself through my garments sharing my experiences and struggles. It all started when I was around the age of 5, knitting with my grandma and then over the years I started developing my knowledge and skills in all aspects of the industry. I am always thinking about what’s next in fashion, by this I mean what is something no other designer has ever done before, how can I make the impossible possible. I love fabric manipulation because I like to see how far I could take a design using different techniques and media.

I love helping out at The Fashion School. It’s lovely seeing the children express themselves through their designs or garments that they produce in the classes. They are all so talented in their own way and they don’t even realise how good they are! The Fashion School allows me to share my knowledge and experiences with the children, watching them blossom in the classes as their knowledge of the construction of a garment develops.

Charlie

Tutor (BA Hons)

Hi, I'm Charlie and I have been a tutor since the summer of 2024. I love making it possible for the kids to create their ideas.

Born in rural Spain, I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer from a young age, even though it wasn't taught at school and no one around me spoke about fashion as a career. I was always doing fashion sketches and was so happy when my godmother taught me to sew when I was 10. I could finally start creating. This was the beginning of my journey, and I want to make this possible for others as well.

When I moved to the UK, my school offered fashion and textiles, I then focused on this at college and studied fashion design and technology at Manchester Metropolitan University. In my 3rd year of University, I took a placement year and got to work for one of my favourite designers Iris Van Herpen in Amsterdam. This experience was the most transformative for my career and allowed me to push myself in my final year of uni. My final collection was awarded Best in Show in Graduate Fashion Week and I decided to start my brand in partnership with my fiance when I graduated in 2022. Something I always knew I wanted to do although not at this early stage, but with my final collection as a starting point I thought what better time than now. Our brand Belladonis creates one-off custom outfits that celebrate the queer community. It has allowed us to work on some exciting pieces including items for Drag Race.

Katie

Tutor

I am a student in my final year of Uni studying Fashion Design. I love to be creative in all aspects of my life. When I am not sewing or designing I am on my roller skates performing or skating with MC Jamskate. I am part of the committee and we help organise workshops and events such as roller discos and meets. Before Uni, I started my own clothing brand Nothing But Love Clothing. This started off as reworking vintage clothes and giving them a new purpose in life. I then branched off into festival accessories which was really fun to do.

I love being a tutor at the Fashion School as it allows me to pass on my knowledge to the children and I get to watch them express themselves individually. It has been amazing to watch the students find their own style and niche whilst attending classes.

Monica

Tutor

Hi everyone, I'm Monica, one of the tutors at the fashion school, Manchester. I have been at the fashion school since the very first workshop and have loved being a part of our wonderful community ever since.

Alongside working at the fashion school, I work as a design assistant at a fashion wholesale here in Manchester. I am also currently studying fashion at Bolton university. I hope to see you sometime soon to make something incredible.