Early last year, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) announced ambitious plans to grow Burnley’s student population from 400 to 4,000 by 2025. For some, “university” is not the first word that springs to mind upon hearing “Burnley”. We’ve undoubtedly aligned ourselves with advanced manufacturing, stunning rural countryside and – more historically – a dominant international exporter of textiles. But, how do such traits, plus many more, fit into the evolving identity of a budding university town? What makes Burnley “cool”?
Textiles aren’t just a thing of the past
Let us first delve into the world of textiles. At one time, Burnley was the largest producer of cotton cloth in the world, but you’re not here for a history lesson, so why is this important today? For starters, world-famous artist and fashion designer Aitor Throup has set up camp right around the corner from the UCLan Burnley campus. Throup has lived in and left prominent European cities and returned to our up-and-coming town to create a cutting-edge studio in a storybook setting.
And he’s not the only world-famous fashionista working out of our trendy little town. Carrie-Ann Kay is the talented Burnley designer behind fashion label Rene K, which is known to frequently dress the celebrities we all know and (may!) love. Reality TV stars Gemma Collins, Charlotte Crosby and Paralympian and Strictly star Lauren Steadman have all recently graced the The National Television Awards’ red carpet in Rene K’s outfits.
The trends of tomorrow come from the cutting-edge creativity pouring out of Burnley’s fashion innovators. After all, it is quite literally in our blood. It’s fitting then, that one of the main courses run at the UCLan Burnley campus is Fashion and Textiles. The deep-cut knowledge of the town can now be passed onto the next generation of designers.
The Burnley beat
With fashion, comes music. And with music, comes the legendary parties, events and festivals that the North of England is so well known for.
We all know that 2020 is a year where we’ve all had to stay at home to do our bit for the country. However, there’s a light at the end of every tunnel. And the seemingly never-ending tunnel of the current crisis will soon open up to the satisfying strobe lights of 2021.
Incredible independent festivals such as Burnley Live and Drop the Beat, are renowned for bringing in the very best of local bands, DJs and singers. And then there’s nightclubs such as Mode and Proj3kt, who bring in some legendary live acts: from iconic rappers like Wiley to world-famous DJs such as James Hype.
On top of this, venues like the Creative Arts Studio give artists of any kind (DJs, singers, actors, painters etc) a prime space to grow their talents. So, whether students are taking an arts-based course like Fashion, or they simply need a space for a hobby outside of studying, Burnley really will foster and expand raw creativity.
Burnley has its own distinctive identity which cannot be replicated or compared with any other place. Its rich history has shaped it into a cultural hub for fashion, art and music. And, now, the town is witnessing a new chapter of its history carved by its incoming students.
So will you be a part of it?