Bobby Hillson

Bobby Hillson is a London-based fashion illustrator, former designer of children's clothing, and founder of the Saint Martin's School of Art MA Fashion course.

Hillson, who had studied at Saint Martin's School of Art, started out as an illustrator for Vogue UK, The Sunday Times, and The Observer in the early 1950s. In 1954 she attended Coco Chanel's relaunch show. She is particularly renowned for her 1960s illustration work. In 1969, she launched her childrenswear brand, and in 1972, a little girl's dress and pinafore was chosen as the Dress of the Year by Moira Keenan alongside a Biba outfit and a young boy's outfit by Burton. As of 2013, no other children's clothes have been selected as Dress of the Year.

Whilst at Saint Martin's, Hillson was one of the first people to recognise the potential of Alexander McQueen, offering him a place on the course when he approached her about a cutter's job. When McQueen received an honorary doctorate from Saint Martins, he thanked Hillson first of all. In addition to McQueen, Hillson's former students include John Galliano, Stephen Jones, Rifat Özbek and Sonja Nuttall. Following her retirement in 2004, she was succeeded as course director of the MA Fashion course by another former student, Louise Wilson.