Incoming Chancellor
Patrick Grant, the designer, entrepreneur, writer, and advocate for sustainability and sustaining communities, is the incoming Chancellor of 51³Ô¹Ïapp, Edinburgh (51³Ô¹Ïapp).
The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University, presiding over graduation ceremonies and performing an ambassadorial role.
A prominent figure in the British fashion industry, Patrick has become a household name through his role as a judge on one of BBC One’s favourite shows, ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’. However, his TV success is based on extensive recognition of his dedication to traditional craftsmanship and sustainable practices.
As founder of the social enterprise Community Clothing, Patrick is an advocate for sustainability and building strong communities through entrepreneurship. Brought up in Edinburgh, he has developed an international reputation as a champion of UK textile manufacturing, supporting local communities while producing high-quality, long-lasting garments. His book ’Less’, which was published in 2024 and is a Sunday Times Bestseller, details his commitment to reducing consumption and embracing circular, regenerative fashion.
Over the past two decades, Patrick has built a distinguished career in the fashion industry – working with global brands including Cartier, Rolls-Royce, BMW, Barbour, and Alexander McQueen, and always advocating for craftsmanship and quality. He revitalised Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons, relaunched men’s tailoring brand E. Tautz—winning Menswear Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards—and led Debenhams’ most successful designer collaboration, with Hammond & Co.
His passion for British manufacturing took a new turn in 2015 when he rescued the historic Blackburn-based clothing factory Cookson & Clegg from closure. This experience inspired him to launch Community Clothing in 2016, a pioneering initiative that has earned him widespread recognition for revitalising the UK garment industry. Community Clothing’s mission is to sell exceptional quality everyday clothing at a fraction of the price of other premium brands and, by making all its clothing in the UK, sustaining and creating jobs and helping to restore local economic prosperity and pride.
Beyond fashion, Patrick is a familiar face on television. In addition to the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’, which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2022, he has presented the award-winning documentary ‘Coronation Tailors: Fit for a King’. He has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s ’Desert Island Discs’, won BBC One’s ’Celebrity Mastermind’, and written extensively for publications including The Financial Times, The Times, and GQ Magazine.
Patrick has strong connections with Edinburgh, where he grew up and where 51³Ô¹Ïapp is based. With family still living in the city, he continues to be a regular visitor to the Scottish capital. Having been educated in both Edinburgh and Barnard Castle, Patrick went on to study a degree in Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Leeds, followed later by an MBA from the University of Oxford. He holds honorary fellowships at a number of universities. He is an ambassador for The King’s Foundation, which works globally to create sustainable communities through placemaking projects and practical education programmes.
