Congratulations to BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology Womenswear student Jake Treddenick, who was announced as one of the winners of the inaugural BFC undergraduate scholarships earlier this month.
Funding is available from the BFC Education Foundation for students enrolled in their final year of study, on a full-time BA (Hons) degree in fashion. The aim of the scholarship is to promote excellence in design by financially supporting students who have the ability and potential to make an exceptional contribution to the fashion industry.
Jake was one of three winners. There had originally only been two awards planned but in recognition of his ‘exceptional talent’ the BFC decided to award Jake with an additional prize.
LCF News spoke to Jake to find out what the application process was like and what his plans for the future are.
How did you go about applying for a BFC scholarship?
The opportunity was sent out by an LCF tutor and the first part of the application involved submitting an initial portfolio of around 25-30 pages with a personal statement. From there, I was selected to meet a well established panel to present my final collection and the ideas based around my work, both past and present. I found the process to be quite terrifying because I had to deal with such a prestigious institute – the British Fashion Council – but it was also one of the best experiences, both for personal and career aspirations. It was like having the ultimate fashion critique. The panel was the best thing about it for me and the feedback they gave was inspiring.
How do you feel to have been awarded a scholarship, and what happens next?
It is a great honor and something that will I will always be proud of, being backed and having support from the BFC is amazing. I will exhibit my final collection in May and from there I will continue with other projects, that will hopefully be supported with BFC and industry professionals.
What’s it like studying at LCF?
LCF has been one of the craziest times in my life! I’ve managed to meet some fantastic people who are a source of inspiration for me, simply by being themselves. LCF will always be a heart-warming place and has always felt like home to me. It was the reason I chose the institute and the reason I will always treasure it, for both memories and the fantastic industry knowledge they provide.
What have been the highlights and challenges of your course?
I think the scholarship has been my main achievement, as well as enjoying my industry placement which allowed me to gain a lot, meet amazing people and work with beautiful things. There have also been many challenges on the course, one being personal issues and how we as individuals survive the hard hours and long days – but still, it’s always worth it.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to go onto do an MA which I am currently working towards. I also want to be part of a collective with other designers that support students across the university, to create the next generation of designers.