From making her own prom dress at 15 to launching her bespoke shirt business with help from the University, Sarah’s journey is a true story of creativity and determination.
Prior to studying BA (Hons) Fashion Design, Sarah’s passion for fashion began at just 15 years old when she made her own prom dress. Although she initially pursued a different path, completing an engineering apprenticeship with Western EU as a Toolmaker, she soon realised she needed a more creative challenge. Her skills in AutoCAD translated naturally into pattern work, and while studying Fashion Design at Craven College in Skipton she rediscovered her creative spark.
Sarah’s first professional role was in wardrobe departments for various musical productions, where she helped create and maintain costumes. She later moved closer to home and joined John Lewis, specialising in bespoke work such as pattern-cut apex curtains, bedspreads, and other custom pieces.
Her decision to attend the University of Lancashire came after being passed over for a promotion at John Lewis because she didn’t have a degree. She had been mentored by an external professional who, upon hearing what had happened, told her: “You’re better than this job. Go to university and create your own path.” That same mentor went on to write Sarah’s University recommendation letter.
Sarah’s time at University was filled with creative opportunities that reinforced her passion for fashion. She says: "One of my lasting memories from my time at UCLan was attending the subtraction pattern cutting workshop with Julian Roberts. It was an incredibly inspiring experience that challenged me to think outside the box and approach design in a completely new way.”
In her first year, she began working for Dooley & Rostron, a renowned shirt tailor in Manchester, she said: “I loved every minute of it, the factory manager quickly became both a mentor and a friend, constantly challenging me to push my skills further. I even took a year out of my degree to complete my sandwich placement with them, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Sadly, just before my final year, the business faced difficult times and several of us were made redundant.”
Undeterred, Sarah went on to work alongside Gareth Pugh and Danny Boyle on Free Your Mind, a ground-breaking stage-show where she served as a freelance tailor, assisting with pattern cutting, draping, and making, an unforgettable creative experience for Sarah.
She later joined The Village Tailors, where she refined her understanding of fit through alteration work and bespoke projects, including prom dresses. Sarah said: "It was there that a bespoke client asked for Bespoke shirts for a wedding, as he couldn’t find any that fit his collar size. I drafted the pattern, made the shirt, and fitted it, It was perfect. The look on his face said it all. That moment was when I knew bespoke shirt making was exactly what I wanted to do.”
"Studying at the University of Lancashire allowed me to start my own business."
— Sarah Muldowney, BA (Hons) Fashion Design graduate
Sarah now runs Sarah Muldowney Bespoke Shirt Tailoring, which she launched with the help of the Sarah Butterworth Fund, a University of Lancashire grant that supports up to 15 student start-up businesses. Speaking about how the grant helped her on her way, Sarah said: “Without the support of the Sarah Butterworth Fund, launching my shirt-tailoring business at this stage would have been a much greater challenge. The grant, alongside guidance from the University, allowed me to bring my vision to life far sooner than anticipated.”
Running her business means overseeing everything from sourcing fabrics, pattern cutting, and sewing to managing finances and social media. The fund has also enabled Sarah to purchase specialist tools and materials essential for high-quality, sustainable shirt production, helping her build a brand that celebrates British craftsmanship.
Since graduating, Sarah has achieved numerous milestones, including designing and manufacturing uniforms for a British defence airline, creating ring wear for professional wrestlers, and dressing celebrities such as Layton Williams. Her final collection is also set to be published in ASBO Magazine.
Although she was offered a scholarship to study an MA at the Jimmy Choo Academy, Sarah chose to focus on establishing her business first, though she remains optimistic it’s something she says: “[she] could do in the future.”
If Sarah could offer one piece of advice to prospective students, she says it would be: "Take advantage of what the University has to offer, as it will help you progress as a person.”
