Martine Rose, founder of a celebrated menswear brand, returned to the university where she had been both a student and a lecturer reports Sophie Mitchell

Barnet headteacher with Middlesex University vice chancellor Shân Wareing

Headteachers from Barnet schools and colleges were invited to Middlesex University in order to show appreciation for local educators during the week’s graduation ceremonies and met the Middlesex graduate and fashion designer Martine Rose.

The schools represented were Barnet and Southgate College, Copthall School in Mill Hill, and St James’ Catholic High School in Colindale. The visit marks the launch of Middlesex University’s lifelong learning pathway which will guarantee places and interviews to university applicants from Barnet.

The teachers met Martine Rose, who is among eight recipients of honorary degrees from Middlesex this year. She is a Middlesex alumna, studying BA fashion between 1999 and 2002, and also taught at the university between 2012 and 2016.

Martine’s eponymous menswear brand has been celebrated by celebrities like Drake and A$AP Rocky. She was commissioned by Kendrick Lamar to create a custom jacket for his Superbowl performance earlier this year. Her style is influenced by her Jamaican-British heritage and the London rave scene in the 1990s.

Fashion designer Martine Rose in her graduation gown and hat after being awarded an honorary degree by Middlesex University — Fashion designer Martine Rose (Credit – Middlesex University)

In her speech at the ceremony, she revealed how hard she had to to work hard to achieve success: “I was working in bars and clubs aged 35,” she said. “Graduating is challenging as it’s easy to feel lost outside the comfort zone of an institution, but this is where you figure out who you really are and what you’re about.

The fields being honoured by Middlesex University’s honorary degrees include disability awareness, law, mental health in the workplace and business.

About the 2025 graduation ceremony, Middlesex University’s vice-chancellor professor Shân Wareing said: “We’re delighted that these distinguished individuals have accepted Middlesex University’s recognition of their wonderful contributions in their respective fields.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.