THE BEGINNING...
The fashion narrative began when Cunnington & Sanderson met at the University of Central England, during their Fashion Design Degree. The shared love of draping 'the new' on the mannequin became the creative foundation of the brand.
After graduation the British design duo moved to London. Matthew gained a Masters Degree at the University of Westminster. John gained work experience at two leading fashion house's.
In 2008 Matthew won the Grand Prize of the fashion Jury at the International Festival de mode et photographie, in Hyeres, France. Returning the year later Cunnington & Sanderson presented their debut catwalk show entitled 'mourning weeds' which was also presented at Milan Fashion Week and Brussels Fashion Week.
Highlights from the luxury womenswear brand include winning the On|Off Landrover Visionary Award in London, presenting Catwalk shows at Paris and Milan Fashion Week and exhibiting at London Fashion Week, Barcelona, and at the Villa Noailles International festival de mode et photographie in Hyeres France.
CHAPTERS
October 6th 2023 - Cunnington & Sanderson are invited as judges for the Fashion as a Force for Good Awards with Smart Works Leeds Charity.
October 02nd - 30th 2023 - Cunnington & Sanderson exhibit their bespoke "gown of care" made from used and discarded PPE gowns for the @ppe_refashioned project which was exhibited at Nottingham Trent University.
August 26th 2023 - The Pillow Narrative began. Cunnington & Sanderson invites creatives from around the world portray an emotive story on Instagram with the pillow t-shirt to raise mental health awareness and encourage people to talk about emotions. #pillownarrative
June 1st 2023 - Cunnington & Sanderson invited as Judges with Burberry and Stephanie Smith from the Yorkshire Post for the RUN degree fashion show at the School of Arts Leeds Beckett University directed by Sam Hudson-miles and Many Bovan.
March 13th - 21st 2023 - Cunnington & Sanderson present their Zero Waste Draping Workshop to the 2nd year BA students at Nottingham Trent University.
February 2023 - Cunnington & Sanderson invited to collaborate with Tour Jewellery on the latest campaign.
January 12th 2023 - Cunnington & Sanderson present @no_wasted_jam zero waste knitwear workshop Emotive Balaclava included in the Nottingham Trent University 1st year syllabus.
November 2022 - Cunnington & Sanderson collaborate with Seamm to enter the world of digital fashion wearables. The pillow dress is the first outfit available in the digital world.
October 31st - 01 - Visiting Lecturers Cunnington & Sanderson presents "no wasted jam" Zero-Waste Draping Workshop to MA knitwear & Fashion Pattern Cutting students at Nottingham Trent University.
October 26th 2022 - Invited guest Judges and prize giving at the award ceremony for the student competition from the Yorkshire Archives exhibited by the Future Fashion Factory at Salts Mills in aid of campaign for wool for wool month.
October 12th - 13th 2022 - Visiting Lecturers Cunnington & Sanderson presents "no wasted jam" Zero-Waste Draping Workshop to BA Fashion Design students at the University of Leeds
October 4th 2022 - Visiting Lecturers Cunnington & Sanderson presents "no wasted jam" Zero-Waste Draping Workshop to BA Fashion Design students at the University of Chester.
September 26th 2022 - Online Workshop Cunnington & Sanderson teach their Zero Waste Draping Workshop Online to students at Prior's Field School.
April 4th - 5th - Visiting Lecturers Cunnington & Sanderson present "no wasted jam" Zero-Waste Draping Workshop to MA Pattern Cutting & MA Knitwear Design students at Nottingham Trent University.
March 6th - 7th / 21st - 22nd - Visiting Lecturers Cunnington & Sanderson present "no wasted jam" Zero-Waste Draping Workshop To BA Fashion Design students at Nottingham Trent University.
October 6th - 7th 2021 - Teaching Cunnington & Sanderson Zero-Waste Draping Workshop to the BA Fashion Design Students at the University of Leeds.
September 18th 2021 - March 5th 2022 - Belonging: Fashion & A Sense of Place exhibition at Bankfield Museum, including the pillow dress and caution collection.
September 1st 2021 - March 2022 - CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON collaborate with CREED Fragrance 'Aventus for Her' in the International campaign and the 1st edition book. Designing and making couture garments inspired by Creeds historical equestrian story.
March 1st - 4th 2021 - Teaching online zero waste draping workshop with Nottingham Trent University.
February 2021 - Selling wholesale on the Nuorder platform.
November 2020 - Directors choice winner with the Future Fashion Factory for zero waste fashion.
October 20th 2020 - Selected for Vogue Talents on Vogue Italia.
October 19th 2020 - Teaching CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON zero waste draping workshop at the University of Chester.
October 14th & 15th 2020 - Teaching CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON zero waste draping workshop at the University of Leeds.
March 2020 - Cunnington & Sanderson selected from over 42000 designers on NJAL for the Not Just A Label x Joor 100 project. To sell wholesale on Joor
February 16th - 20th 2020 - Teaching CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON zero waste draping workshop at Nottingham Trent University.
January 2020 - Selected for Vogue Talents on Vogue Italia.
September 2019 - Showroom at WHITE Show, Milan at Milan Fashion Week.
March 2019 - Teaching zero waste draping workshop at Sheffield Hallam University.
March 1st - 20th October 2019 - Garments exhibited at the Fashion Forward Exhibition at Lotherton Hall Museum.
December 2018 - Exhibition imagery / Art Direction for the contemporary fashion forward exhibition at Lotherton Hall Museum, commissioned by Leeds Museums & Galleries.
February 2018 - Draping workshop at Leeds Arts University.
May 2017 - Press Office at Morozzo Communication 75003 Paris.
March 2017 - Showroom at Paris Fashion Week at Morozzo Communication.
February 2017 - London Fashion Week Exhibition at Oxo Tower London with On|Off.
December 2016 - Selected for Vogue Talents on Vogue Italia.
March 2016 - Showroom Romeo - during Paris Fashion Week.
February 22nd - 26th 2016 - Visiting Tutors - HEAD Haute École Art et de Design Geneve Switzerland - Draping Emotions.
January 2016 - Awarded the Future Of Fashion Program showroom at 'Whos Next' Trade show, sponsored by Premiere classe & NJAL Paris.
Sept 2015 - Awarded The Future Of Fashion Program showroom at 'Whos Next' Trade show, sponsored by Premiere classe & NJAL Paris.
May 20th 2015 - Invited to be a guest on the panel about collaboration within design at the London College of Fashion.
April 23rd - April 28th 2015 - 'The Formers' Showroom at the 30th Festival International de Mode & de Photographie, Hyeres sponsored by Mercedes Benz, curated by Marc Turlon.
July 18th - July 19th 2014 - Invited to be part of the Jury panel at Pforzheim University, Germany.
June 10th 2014 - Invited to be on the Jury for Sheffield Hallam University Final Degree Show.
April 25th - April 28th 2014 - Formers Showroom at Hyeres 29th Festival International de Mode et de Photographie, Hyeres, France.
October 2013 & February 2014 - Style icon Lily Gatins wearing Cunnington & Sanderson at Paris Fashion Week. featured on - Vogue Ukraine, L’Officiel Paris/Italia, W magazine, Elle.uk Elle.com, Elle France, New York Times, Style du Monde, Style.com, WWD.
April 2014 - Cunnington & Sanderson original printed scarves sold at the Villa Noailles.
September 2013 - Commissioned to produce Illustrations for Lily Gatins website - ‘Le Report’.
April 26th - May 1st 2013 - Formers Showroom at Hyeres 28th Festival International de Mode et de Photographie, Hyeres, France.
March 2013 - Suzanne von Aichinger wearing Cunnington & Sanderson in the film for the International mode et photographie, Hyeres, France.
April 27th - May 26th 2012 - Cunnington & Sanderson invited by the Villa Noailles to Exhibit their work entitled ‘Pianola Garden’ for the 27th Festival International de Mode et de Photographie, Hyeres, France.
March 2nd 2012 - Paris Fashion Week catwalk A/W 2012/13 ‘Amygdala’ collection at Espace Commines.
March 1st 2012 - Showroom at Espace Commines, Paris, with Land Rover printed wrap designed by Cunnington & Sanderson.
February 2012 - London Exhibition at the Rook & Raven Gallery sponsored by the On|Off & Land Rover Visionary Award.
December 2011 - Awarded winners of the On|Off Land Rover Visionary Award, London.
November 2011 - Invited to present a catwalk show at Mados Infekcija in Lithuania.
October 2010 - Finalists for the Mango Fashion Award with jury members Jean Paul Gaultier & Scarlett Johansson. Exhibiting their collection ‘Omitted’ on the Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona.
April 2009 - Catwalk presentation at the 24th Festival International de Mode et de Photographie, Hyeres, France.
March 2009 - Presented ‘Mourning Weeds’ at Museo Della Permanente, at Milan Fashion Week.
February 2009 - Womenswear catwalk presentation at Brussels Fashion Weekend.
May 2008 - Junior RTW Designer at Givenchy - Paris.
May 2008 - Awarded the NEW GEN Award by the British Fashion Council.
April 2008 - Awarded the Grand Prize of the Jury at the 23rd International Festival de Mode et de Photographie at Hyeres, France.
Head of the Jury, Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, Haider Ackermann, Maria Luisa of the Maria Luisa boutiques in Paris, Carla Sozzani of Corso Como in Milan,
Lane Crawford’s fashion director Sarah Rutson and stylist Patti Wilson.
WORN BY...
The innovative designs by CUNNINGTON & SANDERSON have been worn by many iconic and inspiring people including -
Model Michael Moon, style icon & muse Lily Gatins, French fashion model Suzanne Von Aichinger, American singer/songwriter and record producer Zola Jesus, Iranian Pop Star Gola, Eurovision Song contest Winner Conchita Wurst, Singer songwriter and composer Nicki Wells, American Illustrator & Author Jessie Kanelos Weiner, Singer & Performer, RuPauls Drag Race star Le fIL, British Artist Bay Backner, Heidi Dillon & singer songwriter Sans Soucis.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY...
Photographer and Filmmaker - Kevin Mackintosh, Eva Al Desnudo, Rafael Kroetz, Rankin, Steve Hiett, Curator and Editor at Large of Vogue Greece - Filep Motwary, Daniel Waks, Cecile Bortoletti, Director & Editor Rene Habermacher, Geoff Pugh, Etienne Tordoir, Darren Black, to name a few.