Jeff Banks CBE

Jeff Banks has had a considerable impact on British Fashion for the past 30 years. In 2001 the University was proud to present him with an Honorary Fellowship.

Jeff opened his shop, Clobber, in the year he left college. It was an instant success and quickly became one of the five leading boutiques in London, a position it maintained throughout the sixties. He launched his own label in 1969. At this stage he also began to feed his experience back into the fashion industry, joining the Association of Fashion Designers and becoming a founder member of the Fashion Export Council. The awards began rolling in – twice British Designer of the Year in 1979 and 1981 and British Coat Designer of the Year in 1980. He went on to design the concept for Warehouse. By the early eighties he had been awarded the coveted British Designer of the Year and British Retailer of the Year awards. Jeff also originated the Smirnoff Awards.

In 1986 Jeff was a key player in the launch of the hugely successful TV programme The Clothes Show which made him a household name in the UK and was broadcast to 150 million people worldwide.

In July 2001, Jeff joined the University (then KIAD) students in Rochester Cathedral to accept an Honorary Fellowship.

Jeff still runs a successful studio and has launched ranges of homewares and  clothing collections. He is a visiting lecturer and examiner.