Camilla Elphick, BA Cordwainers Footwear: Product Design and Innovation, graduate shoe collection
LCF News caught up with Camilla Elphick, alumna from LCF’s BA Cordwainers Footwear: Product Design and Innovation course, to discuss her SS15 collection which will be showcased at London Fashion Week.
LCF News: Tell us what your SS15 collection is about?…
Camilla Elphick: The collection “You got the Luck” is inspired by all things lucky. With mood-boosting shoes sure to bring you good fortune and happiness, the collection consists of twelve show-stopping styles in fun colours and prints for every occasion. Key pieces from the collection include the ‘Lucky 7′ high-heel sandal in red glitter, great for making an entrance. Another glamorous pair is ‘Gold Dust’, a red-carpet heel in gold-dusted material. Then there are the ‘Black Magic’ pointy flats, and the ‘Lucky Duckies’, which are perfect for poolside!
LCF News: Who would be the ideal wearer of your designs?
CE: A woman who wants her shoes to be fun, frivolous and to make a statement to any outfit. As for celebrities I would love Diane Kruger and Mira Duma to wear my shoes!
LCF News: How do you feel London as a city influenced you creatively?
CE: It was fantastic to study in London! I was born in London so I feel I know it well but having to go to different LCF locations for classes meant travelling around the city a lot which was great to discover new places. There is a great creative atmosphere in London, especially in East London – I now have an office in Shoreditch which is a very inspiring place to design!
LCF News: Why did you feel inspired to study BA Cordwainers Footwear: Design and Development?
CE: I have always had a passion for shoes and accessories. A great pair of shoes can make a simple outfit complete and can lift your mood too! I think people are definitely drawn towards statement accessories which is why I wanted to create my own designs.
Once I was set on studying in this subject area, I went to visit LCF on an open day. Whist looking around the college I met a very cool guy working on a pair of beautiful shoes, he told me how he also interned at Terry de Havilland. He assured me that this was the course for me – it was very inspiring and I haven’t looked back since!
LCF News: Who or what has inspired you creatively in your life?
CE: As an only child I quite often had to entertain myself so I was pretty creative! I used to draw, style, make, build, and paint anything I could get my hands on. However now I find inspiration in everything, a gallery visit, a headline in a magazine, something I’ve seen out and about and through lots of online research!
LCF News: What did you enjoy most about studying at LCF?
CE: I enjoyed the fact that the course was very specific and tailored towards a career in shoe design and fashion at the end of it! I loved that I was also able to intern with footwear designers throughout my time at LCF. This worked well alongside the course and helped me get my foot in the door after I graduated. There were also lots of industry projects and competitions which was exciting and broadened my perspective while studying.
LCF News: What is most important to you when designing?
CE: I think it’s most important to try and create something I would like to wear myself and most importantly a design that people would love to wear!
LCF News: What are your plans for the future?
CE: To build the brand and keep designing. I am now working on my Pre-fall 15 collection which I am really excited about.
LCF News: What advice would you give to someone wanting to study your course at LCF?
CE: If this is the course for you, do it! It is a very exciting career to get in to and this is really the best course in the world to study shoe design…maybe I am just biased!
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