McLaren and Central Saint Martins Debut Fashion

McLaren Racing and Central Saint Martins debuted a collaborative fashion collection at the Designed to Race: Front Row event during London Fashion Week. The shows, held at the McLaren Technology Centre, presented 12 looks created by MA Fashion students reimagining six decades of the Formula 1 team's history.

The Collaborative Project

The project began earlier this summer when the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team invited students from the university's MA Fashion program to participate. The cohort was split into groups, each assigned a different era of McLaren's motorsport heritage to use as inspiration. Their design process combined traditional tactile practices like sewing and material engineering with digital tools, including Dell Technologies XPS laptops used to develop new prints and patterns.

A panel discussion preceded the runway show. McLaren Racing's Chief Marketing Officer, Louise McEwen, stated that "design has always played an essential part in our racing team performance and brand." She highlighted its role not only in technical areas but also in liveries that celebrate milestone moments. Course Leader Fabio Piras previewed a specific innovation from student Enzo Keuning, describing a scarf that uses "an interlocking technique that takes principles from econometrics to allow small pieces of material to be joined together."

The Runway Presentation

The 12 student-designed looks raced down a runway interspersed with exhibits of McLaren's historical racewear and championship-winning cars. The collection featured new interpretations of iconic team uniforms, including draped utility skirts executed in a Korean style. One standout piece transformed a recognizable car seat into a cape. The 'Grit x Glamour' concept, mentioned by Piras, materialized in designs blending a 1970s aesthetic with British diasporic influences. Technology-driven prints inspired by aerodynamic geometry also featured prominently on the catwalk.

PUMA Partnership Preview

The event also served as the launch platform for a separate commercial collaboration. Guests received an exclusive first look at the upcoming PUMA x McLaren Racing James Hunt collection. This range, building on the late driver's signature style, will include structured jackets, soft hoodies, and lightweight T-shirts. The source reports the PUMA collection will be available for global purchase starting October 19.

The diverse guest list included McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, alongside rapper Kojey Radical and celebrity stylist Edie Liberty Rose. A full recording of the Designed to Race: Front Row shows is available to watch for free on the McLaren Racing Club app.