Four talented fashion design students from Plymouth College of Art have been awarded £600 bursaries to help them with travel and accommodation during prestigious placements across the fashion industry.
The students – Bridget Bimha, Millie Jenkinson, Olivia Neighbour and Deniz Nikol Bilgin – all tookpart in industry placements, from The British Alpaca Fashion Company to Davy J Swimwear, to Makers HQ and Aesthetic Laundry.
The bursaries were awarded by UKFT, the biggest network for fashion and textiles, and Drapers, an industry magazine and website covering the fashion industry. Bridget Bimha, who will graduate in 2022, took part in an internship with The British Alpaca Fashion Company, supported by the UKFT and Drapers bursary programme. Based high in the hills of Exmoor National Park, The British Alpaca Fashion Company pioneers the production of alpaca fibre in the UK and the processing of fibre to create commercial quality textiles and knitwear.
Bridget said:
“The team at The British Alpaca Fashion Company are amazing, teaching me so much and sharing information without any limits. Words fail me to express my gratitude for the bursary and for the very huge difference it has made for me and my family.”
Bridget is a mature student, who undertook a fashion degree after a traumatic event caused her to completely change career. She said:
“Since being assaulted by a mental health patient during a night shift I was working in July 2019, I have never gone back to work and that same year, my indefinite leave to remain came through in August. I decided to fulfi l my dream as the first graduate in my family and also fulfil my passion for fashion by doing a degree.”
Millie Jenkinson, a second year student, took on an internship at Plymouth-based swimwear brand Davy J.
Millie said:
“I’ve been getting on really well with the internship and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I have been learning a lot more and applying my own technical skills within the company with support from the owner, Helen.
“I have been doing work in many parts of the business, including returns, packaging, posting, labelling, making technical drawings for new designs as well as working on new designs for suits. I also got to assist with two photoshoots, which was really fun and I’m helping plan another one that’s coming soon,”
Third year student Deniz Nikol Bilgin, interned at Makers HQ, which is a collaboration between Plymouth College of Art, Millfields Trust and the local Stonehouse community.
The Plymouth-based sampling studio provides high-quality services to the fashion and textile industry, including pattern drafting, single samples, manual and digital pattern drafting and grading, and short production runs.
Deniz said:
“I am extremely happy with my internship so far. Makers HQ let me explore all and any opportunities that I’m interested in and wanted to try out. This ranged from assisting at their teaching studio to helping with the day to day manufacturing tasks.”
Makers HQ is not only an incredible business but also an amazing and supportive group of people that are a joy to work with. I am learning so much, experiencing the industry and Senior lecturer and subject leader for BA (Hons) Fashion Design, Heather Martin said:
”It has been so wonderful to hear just how valuable this experience was for ourstudents, to hear them reflect and relate it to what they’re learning in our programme. To also receive such positive feedback from the industry placement contacts about our students has been fantastic as well.”
Plymouth College of Art’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design course provides a comprehensive design education for independently-minded fashion thinkers and makers who are looking to influence change within the fashion industry.
Visit www.plymouthart.ac.uk to find out more about the range of creative BA, MA and post-16courses offered at Plymouth College of Art, and book a place at the next Open Day on January 15 2022.
