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The UK has one of the largest fashion design industries in the world and its designers are world-renowned. Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Katharine Hamnett, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Julien MacDonald, Phoebe Philo, Stella McCartney, Zandra Rhodes and Hussein Chalayan are at the forefront of their field.

British fashion has a symbiotic relationship with UK music & street culture, the Teds, Mods, Rockers, the Swinging 60s and Punk all proved massively influential in terms of direction and attitude.

London's Saville Row is synonymous with the well-tailored suit, revitalised by the likes of Ozwald Boateng, Timothy Everest and Mark Powell, while actor Hugh Grant's preference for Richard James suits is well known. Shoe designers Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo are both London-based, while Philip Treacy's exquisite hats are in constant demand from both fashion designers and pop stars alike.

Young British designers enjoy and excellent reputation internationally and are famously poached by the big brands: at one time or another Galliano, McQueen, McDonald, McCartney and Philo have all been in charge of Dior, Chloe and Givenchy.

These designers are all products of the UK's famous fashion courses at a wide range of colleges, including London College of Fashion and Central St Martins, attracting and nurturing not only home grown talent but also thousands of students from overseas.