Val Jacobs is the course leader for BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles. She has academic and administrative responsibility for the programme and looks after the enrichment part of the course: facilitating live projects, arranging visiting speakers, exhibitions, shows, study trips and visits. Val maintains close links with industry and employers and has developed a unique network of Industry Mentors who support final year students.
Prior to her career as a university lecturer, Val has worked extensively in the fashion industry as a stylist, consultant and as an independent designer, selling to Japan and the USA, to stores including; Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Selfridges and Liberty.
Val has also experienced working with a number of high street brands including River Island, Topshop and M&S. Her work has appeared in magazines in including Vogue and Harpers and Queen.