Willie Walters

Born in Scotland, she moved to London in the 1960s to study at at St Martins School of Art. After graduating, she started a shop and label called Swanky Modes in Camden together with two friends, Esme Young and Melanie Langer. They were joined a year later by Judy Dewsbery.

The garments for which Swanky Modes became known kicked off with rain clothing made from shower curtains - which Helmut Newton photographed for Nova Magazine in 1973 - , and culminated in swimwear. Swanky Modes gained international success very quickly.

Willie Walters joined Central Saint Martins in 1992 as leader of Womenswear. She was course director of BA Fashion from 1998 to 2016, succeeding Wendy Dagworthy.

Designers she taught include Bora Aksu, Christopher Kane, Craig Green, Gareth Pugh, Hussein Chalayan, Molly Goddard, Phoebe Philo, Ricardo Tisci, Richard Malone, Stella McCartney, Wes Gordon and Zac Posen, amongst many others.