Louise Wilson

Wilson was born in Cambridge, England, moving to the Scottish Borders later in her childhood. After initially studying textiles at Galashiels Technical College, she went on to take a degree in fashion at Preston Polytechnic (later the University of Central Lancashire),{{cite news|last=O'Neill|first=Alistair|title=Louise Wilson obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/may/20/louise-wilson|work=The Guardian|date=20 May 2014|access-date=21 May 2014}} graduating in 1984 with first class honours. In 1986 she gained an MA in Fashion with distinction from Saint Martin's School of Art (later Central St Martins).{{cite web|title=Wilson, Prof. Louise|work=Who's Who |publisher=A & C Black|date=2014|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U247198| access-date= 18 May 2014}}

She worked for various designers including Les Copains, Gianfranco Ferré and Daniel Hechter and as a designer for Guess jeans before becoming an associate lecturer at St Martins in the early 1990s. In 1992 she succeeded Bobby Hillson as the course director of the MA degree programme in Fashion Design.{{cite news|last=Frankel|first=Susannah|title=Louise Wilson: 'As much as I might decry the students, as much as they're a nightmare, it is a privilege to be among youth'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/louise-wilson-as-much-as-i-might-decry-the-students-as-much-as-theyre-a-nightmare-it-is-a-privilege-to-be-among-youth-2359127.html|access-date=22 January 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=24 September 2011}}{{cite news|last=Sherwood|first=James|title=I taught them a lesson; As fashion's most formidable mistress, she mentored McQueen, oversaw Ozbek and goaded the great Galliano|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3728509.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216051115/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3728509.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2013|access-date=22 January 2013|newspaper=The Independent|date=19 February 2007}}{{cite news|last=Wyllie|first=Alice|title=Interview: Professor Louise Wilson, style queen|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Interview-Professor-Louise-Wilson-style.6463237.jp|work=The Scotsman|date=9 August 2010|access-date=4 May 2011}} She moved to New York City in 1997 to become creative director for Donna Karan. After two years she returned to Central St Martins and was made a full professor in 1999, although she simultaneously continued to work for Donna Karan until 2002.

Wilson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to education and the fashion industry.{{London Gazette|issue=58729|supp=y|page=13|date=14 June 2008}} In 2012 she received the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator at the British Fashion Awards;{{cite magazine|last=Cope|first=Rebecca|title=Stella McCartney crowned British designer of the year|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/fashion/fashion-news/british-fashion-awards-2012-winners-271112|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|location=UK|date=27 November 2012|access-date=18 May 2014}} on announcing the award the British Fashion Council described her as "one of the foremost educators of her generation".{{cite press release|title=British Fashion Awards 2012|url=http://www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?id=478|publisher=British Fashion Council|date=27 November 2012|access-date=18 May 2014}}

Wilson had a long-term partner and a son who was in his twenties at the time of her death.{{cite news|last=Mower|first=Sarah|title=Remembering Louise Wilson, Central Saint Martins' Legendary Professor|url=http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/louise-wilson-tribute-central-saint-martins-professor/#1|work=Vogue|location=UK|publisher=Condé Nast|date=18 May 2014|access-date=19 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519204115/http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/louise-wilson-tribute-central-saint-martins-professor/#1|archive-date=19 May 2014|url-status=dead}} She was treated for breast cancer, but continued to work during her treatment.{{cite news|author=Agence France-Presse|author-link=Agence France-Presse|title=Legendary British fashion tutor Louise Wilson dies|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140517/legendary-british-fashion-tutor-louise-wilson-dies|work=GlobalPost|date=18 May 2014|access-date=18 May 2014}}

Wilson died in her sleep while visiting her sister in Scotland on 16 May 2014, aged 52.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Dolly|title=Louise Wilson Dies|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2014/05/17/louise-wilson-dies|work=Vogue|location=UK|publisher=Condé Nast|date=17 May 2014|access-date=18 May 2014}}{{cite news|author=Press Association|author-link=Press Association|title=Louise Wilson, 'inspirational' figure in the world of fashion, dies at 52|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/may/17/louise-wilson-fashion-central-saint-martins-dies|work=The Guardian|date=17 May 2014|access-date=18 May 2014}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.vogue.co.uk/person/louise-wilson Vogue UK profile]
• [http://www.businessoffashion.com/louise-wilson BoF profile]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Louise}}

Category:1962 births

Category:2014 deaths

Category:Academics of Central Saint Martins

Category:Alumni of Central Saint Martins

Category:Alumni of the University of Central Lancashire

Category:British fashion designers

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Category:People from Cambridge

Category:People from the Scottish Borders