Winner Myla Potts Discusses Collaborating with Russell & Bromley as a BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear
- Written byLubna Hussain
- Published date 19 June 2024
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Year 2 students from the BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear course have partnered with Russell and Bromley to bring the brand’s 2030 growth plan to life. Diving into the company’s rich archives, which encompass 140 years of footwear expertise, the students were challenged to blend the heritage and sentiment of Russell and Bromley’s brand with modern trends to create a forward-thinking shoe design.
Three talented young creatives were awarded cash prizes for their innovative designs. The top student also secured a coveted 3-month paid internship with Russell and Bromley, fostering an ongoing knowledge exchange relationship and providing a unique opportunity to further their professional development in the footwear industry.
Charged with crafting a fresh collection for Russell & Bromley's discerning clientele, students explored the brand's legacy while weaving in contemporary trends and ethical considerations.
Armed with archival insights and a strong sustainability ethos, they curated a capsule collection that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. Each design, from initial concept to final prototype, embodied the brand's commitment to sophisticated elegance, signalling a new chapter in luxury footwear.
In this blog Lily Bolingbroke from the Business and Innovation team interviews competition winner Myla Potts, where she shares insights into her creative process.
Hi Myla, it's wonderful to meet you! I'm excited to hear about your journey. Could you share your experience of working with Russell and Bromley? What were some of the major highlights for you, and were there any challenges you faced during the process, whether logistical or otherwise?
Thank you, it’s a pleasure! I love the concept side of everything, the designing and drawing and getting it all done. Once I got started, I was like, oh this is so rich, there's a lot actually from the brief that we were given, and bringing Russell & Bromley into the future whilst respecting the history. I found that really, really enjoyable. We went to their archive, which was absolutely brilliant. The trip added that extra inspiration that brought a spark tying it back to the brand.
What do you think made the archival products so inspiring, and how did it help you align your design with the Russell and Bromley brand?
I think it was the process of seeing that it wasn't just loafers and a black booth, that in the past, there had been things with more buttons and swirls and colour. I love vintage fashion which initiated a spark. We had a visit from Russell and Bromley before our trip to the archives when we were halfway through our project and received some really good feedback then. I kind of had an idea for my range which was half-developed at the time. From hearing the feedback from the Russell and Bromley team and from our tutors its been so helpful the whole way through. I was actually able to go, OK, this is where I need to finish now.
Having that relationship with industry, do you think that that's really preparing you a bit more for what life is going to be after university?
I feel this experience has shown me that I can approach a project in my own way and take the initiative when I think the brief needs a bit of a challenge. While I can follow instructions well, I also have my own style. Winning this has made me realise that I can trust my instincts and creativity because clearly, people appreciate it.
That’s brilliant! How has winning made you feel and how has it made you feel as a creative, as an artist in terms of your confidence?
First of all I want to go thank my mum, because she was like ‘you think you're gonna get it?’, and I was like ‘no’. She was like ‘you do’. But no, I don't actually know what I feel yet. But it's incredible. I'm so glad that I am able to get the experience.
There's so much work, so it's quite nice to have some industry experience, and work experience just handed to me, and to know how much it will benefit me thinking about the future.
I am actually looking forward to doing something, because Russell & Bromley don't have a design department, I'm quite looking forward to doing something different. Learning about the marketing of shoes and maybe buying and seeing that aspect of it other than just me sitting there making a mood board and going forward with that aspect of things. Actually participating in going to go out and researching what is happening and what's needed - mixed in with what's going on in my brain. But yeah, I'm excited!
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