As part of the Fashion Minority Alliance’s work in higher education, we visit colleges to provide industry level feedback to assist the students’ with unbiased advice that they can use to finesse their final collections.
Recently we worked with British GQ Fashion Editor, Angelo Mitakos, and Creative Director, Chloe Beeney, when we were invited by LCCA Lead, Sadie Clayton, to critique the collections in progress. During one of our sessions we discovered Mary, a young womenswear designer who had moved onto the BA course whilst studying for a lower classified credit.
Our panel identified Mary as someone who had a refined vision and talent for colour that would benefit from additional support, both financial and consulting, to help her realise the final collection.
We awarded Mary a bursary to ensure she was able to use quality fabrics for her final collection and obtain technical assistance including a seamstresses to help realise some of the more complicated garments. She says, “The bursary meant that I could create my designs to a professional level……Thank you FMA!”.
Her collection, ‘Third Culture Kid,’ referenced Mary’s heritage with both Rwandese and Spanish inspiring and informing the collection. With a definite nod to the luxury market her designs feel both modern and timeless. Mary says, of working with the Fashion Minority Alliance,
“Their professionalism, expertise and support guided me through the process with a little bit of hand holding added in.” adding, “It’s competitive and there’s a financial cost, with so many amazing people you have to stand out and you have to find your vision and your place”.
Mary has successfully graduated and is currently taking the time to visit Africa as part of a research and inspiration trip before starting to design her new collection and we can’t wait to see it.