It was with deep sadness that the charity learned on Sunday morning of the passing of ‘Terry’ Mansfield CBE, the second Chair of the Graduate Fashion Foundation, earlier named Graduate Fashion Week.
Terry took on the role of Chair of the charity in January 2004 serving enthusiastically for seven years, until stepping down in November 2011. During Terry’s period of tenure, he was very much ‘hands-on’, traveling the length and breadth of the country to fully comprehend and understand the educational requirements of the charity’s university members and the aspirations and goals of the graduating students associated with the annual London Graduate Fashion Week event. The Hearst publication background of Terry, enabled him to provide a global perspective to our work and he raised significant international media interest in the charity’s annual GFW event, starting with the attendance of Dame Glenda Bailey DBE, Editor in Chief, of American Harper’s Bazaar and a series of celebrity judges such as our now Patron, Victoria Beckham.
The requirement to nurture and support emerging young designer talent and creatives, was Terry’s overriding mantra, one that he retained throughout his chairmanship and continued until the present as his singular message.
Although Terry stepped down in 2011, he never ceased to support or attend GFF events keen to expand his personal understanding and knowledge alongside mentoring the Trustees and graduates associated with the charity.
During this unprecedented time of upheaval and change, as University buildings and facilities became closed to students this Spring, his unstinting support was for the affected 2020 graduating fashion-related students associated with Graduate Fashion Week who were at the forefront of his mind.
The President, Trustees and I, remember Terry very warmly and our thoughts and condolences reach out to all his family and friends.
Douglas G. M. MacLennan
Acting Chair Graduate Fashion Week.