Second-year students from BA (Hons) Bespoke Tailoring participated in a challenge posed by the renowned tailoring brand Huntsman Savile Row: to create new designs from unclaimed bespoke garments and excess cloth. With the objective to promote sustainable practices and support emerging talents, the British-heritage company offered LCF students the opportunity to win a 5-week internship to learn from the brand's craftsmanship and their zero-waste practices. The judging panel chose Annie Fox as the winner of the internship while classmates Tracie Grillo and Polly Harris were highly commended. We spoke with Annie to klearn about her experience and what she expects from working with one of the most prestigious bespoke tailoring brands in the UK.
Photo credits: Huntsman
Hi Annie. Congratulations for winning the internship with Huntsman! Can you tell us more about your experience during the competition?
We met with Huntsman briefly at the beginning of the competition for the brief. We had to pitch our ideas to them, which was really nerve-wracking! It’s quite funny in hindsight because now I’m so comfortable around them at work!
What inspired your piece?
The outfit I created during the competition with Huntsman was based on a new customer journey. I wanted to create a new experience for the bespoke customer by creating a VR game for the selection process.
What have you learned from this experience?
I have learned so much! I think the most important lesson is that I will never stop needing to practice my tailoring.
Sustainability was at the heart of the competition. Is it an important component in your work on the Bespoke Tailoring course?
Needless to say, sustainability is important in the industry. If we want to carry on creating, we all need to incorporate sustainability in our craft.
So you’ve won a 5 week internship at Huntsman, that’s very exciting! How do you feel about it? What do you hope to learn most during your time there?
This internship has been really exciting so far! During my five weeks on Saville Row, I’m planning on taking in as much information as possible about their craftsmanship.I am currently working on my coat-making, so I hope to have improved my skills by the time I leave Huntsman.
Tell us more about your time at LCF: why did you choose to study here?
I knew Bespoke Tailoring was what I wanted to study right from the start. It's quite a niche subject and London College of Fashion seemed like the best place for me.
What advice would you give to potential students who would like to enrol at this course?
Enjoy this time to experiment and get out of your comfort zone while creating. As a student, you should take advantage of the fact that you can make whatever you want!
What are your plans for the next few years?
I would like to practice my skills and work for different established tailors and learn as much as I can. Later on, I think I would like to start my own company.
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