Istituto Marangoni London Announces Sarah Mower MBE As New Design Mentor

Third-Year Fashion Design students will embark on an exciting journey working closely with the Vogue Journalist and Critic ahead of their final collection.

Tuesday evening was filled with excitement for the students of Istituto Marangoni London. After hosting acclaimed designer Simone Rocha for a talk moderated by Vogue journalist, critic and British Fashion Council’s (BFC) Ambassador for Emerging Talent Sarah Mower at the school’s Spitalfields campus, the Director of Education Adi Maoz-Cohen revealed that Mower will be the latest Design Mentor to join the institution. Mower joined the ranks of the Board of Mentors alongside its illustrious members, which include Olivier Rousteing, Katie Grand, Amina Muaddi, and Grace Wales Bonner.

“I always believe the future is happening somewhere you’re not looking at, and it’s normally with young people," explained Mower. “This is the first time I’ve done a sustained program, so this is new for my career. This college and its students are incredibly enthusiastic, and I think it’s also going to be a challenge for myself in figuring out how to approach this new mentorship.”

Mower will begin her journey with the 2025 Fashion Design cohort in January, as the students will start conceptualising their final collection. Through this newly acquired mentorship, Mower strives to "find out who everybody is” and tailor her approach to each student. Her support of the school aims to go beyond guiding third-year students into the industry; she seeks to give them the confidence to believe in their own convictions and to produce a final project that feels authentic to their creative identities.

The Vogue critic has a proven record of fostering emerging talent. In addition to her direct support of the British Fashion Council and the rising designers of NewGen, she is also an influential advocate for the up-and-coming fashion students she supports independently. Drawing from her years of experience and the many creatives whose careers she has overseen, Mower has developed a keen eye for spotting promising, unique talent—a skill she will be bringing to Marangoni. “One of the things I am good at is showing people why they are talented, and giving them confidence,” she said. “I hope to discuss some of the realities that are happening in the fashion industry at the moment, and to give the students hope as to how they can find a foothold in today’s world.”

Though the exact shape and form Mower’s mentorship is yet to be seen, there is no doubt she will guide her new protégés in the right direction.