Designer Jimmy Choo to open "ground-breaking" London fashion academy

Nigel TAYLOR

Опубликовано
20 янв. 2021 г.

Luxury footwear pioneer Jimmy Choo is to launch a higher education fashion academy in London this September “to find the next wave of global fashion designers”.

Promising “ground-breaking” tuition and “access to internationally recognised design leaders”, Professor Choo claims the JCA/London Fashion Academy is on track to become the UK's newest university exclusively dedicated to fashion.

The London, Mayfair-based Academy aims to deliver “a fresh and transformative take on fashion higher education”. Courses will “combine the latest teachings in contemporary design with the entrepreneurial skills required to set-up and drive successful fashion brands of the future”.

This includes a “ground-breaking” incubation model where students will be “nurtured as emerging professional designers through a mentored approach”.

Importantly, the Academy said it will be “provided with a level of access to internationally recognised design leaders unrivalled by traditional colleges and universities”.

Professor Choo said: “The Academy has been years in planning, so we are delighted to be opening its doors this September.

“London is a global fashion hub and has created many of the world's most exciting and ground-breaking designers. Rarely though do these designers leave higher education armed with the combined knowledge, skills and resources needed to create, launch and build brands successfully on the global stage".

He added: "The Academy will help bridge those gaps and truly nurture internationally-focused and highly entrepreneurial design talent”.

He said the curated syllabus is inspired by his own experiences in building the luxury super-brand named after him, as well as the multi-faceted skill sets “which fashion designers increasingly need in today's ultra-competitive multi-channel global landscape”.

Government minister for Universities, Michelle Donelan, added: “It is brilliant to see new exciting and innovative institutions expanding the boundaries of higher education. It is vital that students gain the practical skills and hands-on experience that employers and industries need and the JCA's revolutionary approach can help students hit the ground running into a successful career”.

Information about the JCA and its courses are available on JCA.ac.uk. The Academy will also offer bursaries to a select number of students, it said.