Don’t panic, be patient if success is a long time coming, and celebrate your peers’ achievements, Londoner and pioneering menswear designer Martine Rose advised students as she was awarded an honorary degree at Middlesex University during its 2025 Graduation Week on Monday 23rd June.

A former Middlesex University student who graduated from BA Fashion in 2002, her fans include global icons like Drake, Rihanna, and A$AP Rocky, and her collaboration with Nike further cemented her reputation, making her pieces coveted by collectors. She was in the global spotlight earlier this year when rapper and singer Kendrick Lamar wore her custom-made jacket at his halftime performance at the Super Bowl.

Martine, originally from Croydon and now living in Kentish Town, North West London, has been based in the city all her life. She advised new Arts graduates of 2025 that it was the place to be. She said: “What London has, which not many of the European cities have, is a real tenacity and creative spirit. People find against all odds a way to do it, and I find that really inspiring.”

Martine returned to teach at Middlesex University on its fashion courses between 2012 and 2016, an experience she describes as “challenging but incredibly rewarding”.

She said: “My first love is people and teaching is a way to connect to people. Some students overcome unbelievable odds to start or complete their education. There are students wracked with self-doubt, and who have challenges at home. It’s inspiring to be a teacher and watch them grow.” She felt “so proud” of this year’s graduating students. “To see all that promise and optimism, I find it very moving,” she said.

In her speech at the ceremony, she paid tribute to staff she taught alongside at Middlesex, and to her parents and family members for their unwavering support. She told university staff: “It was an honour to observe you teach and deliver the high standard of care to the students.”

Martine’s love for fashion growing up in Croydon was sparked by the energy and creativity of south London’s rave and reggae scenes. After graduating from Middlesex, she co-founded label LMNOP with close collaborator Tamara Rothstein, before launching her own label in 2007 with a £1,500 loan from The Prince’s Trust.

Initially focusing on menswear shirting, her brand evolved into one of the most respected names in contemporary menswear. She gained support from Fashion East and later from the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN MEN awards. Her work redefines boundaries with its offbeat, thoughtful reinterpretation of subcultural style, and raises awareness of urban spaces and communities that have influenced her through showing collections in down-to-earth venues such as an indoor market, a rock-climbing centre, and her daughter’s primary school.

In 2022, Martine won the GQ Germany Award for Best Menswear Designer of the Year. She has been shortlisted for the LVMH prize and nominated for numerous awards including the British Fashion Council’s British Menswear Designer of the Year in successive years, the Urban Lux award and the ANDAM award for emerging designers. Martine’s contributions to the fashion industry were recently recognised in the Vogue Runway exhibition at London’s Lightroom gallery in King’s Cross.

Martine revealed how she hard to work hard to achieve success which did not happen overnight. “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.

“One thing I hope you all maintain and nurture throughout your journey is a curious mind. Look around you at your classmates because you are the next generation of the industry. Make connections with each other and keep in touch. Go into the world with an open mind and an open heart.”

Speaking about Graduation Week 2025 and all of the honorary graduates, Middlesex University 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 and communities. It gives me great pleasure to welcome them to our Middlesex community during our graduation ceremonies, and to be able to honour and thank them for their exceptional achievements.”