The Community Brain has published a magazine celebrating Kingston Borough's contributions to the fashion industry over the last six decades.

The one-off publication, titled Brooker, documents the legacy of former head of Kingston School of Art Daphne Brooker, alongside stories of international significance from both graduates past and present and the wider Kingston community.

It delves into the story of a group of students from Kingston School of Art, who 60 years ago secured the institution's first win at a prestigious international competition for young fashion designers at St. Gallen in Switzerland, against contemporaries from the likes of Paris, Hanover, Brussels, and Amsterdam. 

Their success not only helped secure the UK's reputation for cutting-edge design but enshrined the 'London Look' as the signature style of the Swinging Sixties.

As part of the launch, two new hoardings have been unveiled on Kingston Riverside, celebrating historic works of Kingston students alongside award winning portfolio images from recent graduates. 

The Community Brain hopes Brooker and the new displays will encourage locals to get involved in Kingston's stylish past — and present — as part of its wider '60 Years of Fashion in Kingston' project, with the non-profit planning similar community events in collaboration with a number of local businesses and communities throughout 2025.

Heritage Researcher and Brooker lead writer Jarek Żaba said: "In 1965, students from the School of Art made waves with their victory in Switzerland, a success repeated four more times.

"This set the tone for six decades of success, with Kingston University students today regularly sweeping up awards at Graduate Fashion Week and its fashion course recognised internationally as one of the best for producing industry-ready graduates. 

"Brooker owes much to our partnership with the university, and the fabulous MA Publishing students who designed its pages.

"But it also celebrates wider stories of fashion in Kingston today, and we think anyone with a passion for fashion or the local area will be fascinated by what we have uncovered." 

To celebrate the launches of Brooker and 60 Years of Fashion in Kingston, The Community Brain hosted a celebration evening at Brookers Bar yesterday (Thursday, 24 April), which Kingston Mayor, Liz Green, attended.

'The influence that Kingston has, and continues to have, in the fashion world is quite incredible and we look forward to featuring these stories over the coming months,' says Robin Hutchinson, Director at The Community Brain (Credit: The Community Brain)

Robin Hutchinson, Director at The Community Brain said: "60 Years of Fashion in Kingston is the latest in our series of projects that profile the borough's rich history of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, having previously celebrated local links to David Bowie, Mary Quant and the Mini Cooper. 

"The influence that Kingston has, and continues to have, in the fashion world is quite incredible and we look forward to featuring these stories over the coming months.

"We will be holding our Mini Day, celebrating the fact that the Mini Cooper was designed in Surbiton, on Saturday 17 May, and this time it has a fashion twist. We hope local residents and businesses will join in with the celebrations."

You can find out more information on '60 Years of Fashion in Kingston' here.

Find out more about The Community Brain's other events around the borough on its What's On page here.