OUR SCHOOL
Rare School of Fashion and Art is committed to providing bespoke training for aspiring designers and creatives pursuing careers in art and fashion. Alongside Rare Studio School of Performing Arts, our sister school, we look for passion and potential regardless of background and are dedicated to guiding our students onto higher education or straight into jobs in the industry. Our team of devoted staff are all industry professionals in their own fields who are focussed on nurturing talent to ensure our students reach their full potential. At Rare we encourage anybody with passion and potential to apply!
A MESSAGE FROM SHAUN KEARNEY
Chief Executive Officer at Pleasing
Co-Founder of Rare School of Fashion and Art
“With Rare School of Fashion and Art, we are establishing Liverpool’s place on the international fashion map. The qualities I look for in students are the same ones that I look for when I’m hiring. If you have passion, determination, dedicated, talent and curiosity for the fashion and art communities, we want to hear from you.”
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
“I was completely in awe of what my cousin and Rare School of Fashion and Art co-founder, Lindsay Inglesby, had achieved with our sister performing arts school Rare Studio. Her endless passion for the school was completely infectious and the impact she was having on young performing artists in the local community was so inspiring. When Lindsay came to New York to visit me, I took her to my local breakfast hangout in Tribeca and the idea for Rare School of Fashion & Art was born. We both got the chills and couldn’t finish our breakfast but we both knew we were giving birth to something unique and very special.
This is the course that I dreamt about doing prior to my degree! Why? Because it blends exactly the right balance of art and commerce. We are able to provide students with a career and education pathway perfectly adapted to the forever-evolving nature of the fashion industry. It was also very important to me personally that students had access to this in the North of the UK and specifically Liverpool. After all, this is the place I was born and raised.
I have been fortunate enough to have an amazing career in the fashion industry and have worked for many great fashion brands across the globe, from NYC to Italy. I currently live and work in Los Angeles and I have spent the last several years working with actress and CEO Gwyneth Paltrow overseeing the merchandising functions of the Goop brand. I was inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2011 which was the most prestigious honour of my career. I draw inspiration from everything and everywhere - art, culture and music - and I have had the pleasure of designing for many celebrities including Britney Spears, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, Ciara, Emma Stone, Alexa Chung and many others.
The insight and knowledge I have gained over the years is fully integrated into this course and I try to use the leverage of my full network whenever I can. We are so happy to see our students move on to some of the top fashion institutions in the country and I am extremely proud of each and every one of them. I am also very honoured to work alongside the dynamic staff we have in place who have a prolific understanding of each student’s creative journey and career pathway. The Rare School of Fashion & Art is not just a school - it’s a community of talented individuals who are paving the way forward and reimagining the fashion & art world for the future. Come and join the Rare movement with us!”
Shaun XO
As Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”
TERM DATES 23/24
Our term dates for the 23-24 academic year are as follows:
AUTUMN TERM
11.09.23 - College induction week
20.10.23 - Last day before Half Term
21.10.23 - 05.11.23 - HALF TERM
06.11.23 - Return from Half Term
08.12.23 - Last day before Christmas Holiday
09.12.23 - 07.01.24 - CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
SPRING TERM
08.01.24 - Return from Christmas Holidays
09.02.24 - Last day before Half Term
10.02.24 - 18.02.24 - HALF TERM
19.02.24 - Return from Half Term
28.03.24 - Last day before Easter Holiday
29.03.24 - 14.04.24 - EASTER HOLIDAYS
SUMMER TERM
15.04.24 - Return from Easter Holidays
24.05.24 - Last day before Half Term
25.05.24 - 02.06.24 - HALF TERM
03.06.24 - Return from Half Term
16.06.24 - Last day before Summer Holiday
17.06.24 - 09.09.24 - SUMMER HOLIDAYS
TERM DATES 24/25
Our term dates for the 24-25 academic year are as follows:
AUTUMN TERM
16.09.24 – College induction week
25.10.24 – Last college day before Half Term
28.10.24 – 10.11.24 – HALF TERM
11.11.24 – Return from Half Term
13.12.24 – Last college day before Christmas Holiday
16.12.24 – 05.01.25 – CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
SPRING TERM
06.01.25 – Return from Christmas Holidays
14.02.25 – Last college day before Half Term
17.02.25 – 23.02.23 – HALF TERM
24.02.25 – Return from Half Term
04.04.25 – Last college day before Easter Holiday
07.04.25 – 21.04.23 – EASTER HOLIDAYS
SUMMER TERM
22.04.25 – Return from Easter Holidays
23.05.25 – Last college day before Half Term
27.05.25 – 01.06.25 – HALF TERM
02.06.25 – Return from Half Term
21.06.25 – Last college day before Summer Holiday
24.06.25 – SUMMER HOLIDAYS BEGIN
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