In the spring of 1939, St Martins School of Art moved into new premises at 107-109 Charing Cross Road. “Now the school is properly housed,” London county council leader Herbert Morrison declared, “we hope the students will take full advantage of the opportunities afforded for studying.” They did, as Hywel Davies and Cally Blackman’s vibrant new history, Fashion Central Saint Martins (Thames & Hudson), explores – albeit in ways well beyond Morrison’s imagining.

Over the decades, the building the Observer dubbed an “astonishing honeycomb” would play host to generation after generation of groundbreaking talent. It was where the Sex Pistols played their first gig, where John Galliano’s unique vision ignited and where Alexander McQueen started down the path to stardom. And through this book, many of its extraordinary students – among them Bill Gibb, Hussein Chalayan, Katie Grand, Phoebe Philo, Riccardo Tisci, Gareth Pugh and Christopher Kane – reflect on CSM’s impact. As Katharine Hamnett, a graduate from the class of 69, puts it: “I owe them the debt of my life.”

At its core, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the school’s equally extraordinary teachers, from pioneering Muriel Pemberton and unflappable Bobby Hillson to formidable Louise Wilson. They shaped an educational phenomenon that occupies a unique space in British fashion.