Celebrating tradition and nurturing talent: LCF's Cordwainers Awards Ceremony
- Written bySimran Sanghavi
- Published date 24 August 2023
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This summer LCF held an awards ceremony to celebrate student achievements across Footwear and Accessories courses. Cordwainers Awards were handed to 14 graduates from BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear, BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories, and MA Footwear.
The Cordwainers company, which has a remarkable 750-year heritage in the art of shoemaking, has had an unwavering commitment to supporting and nurturing emerging talent in the shoe trade industry. They established the Cordwainers College 150 years ago to train individuals in the art of shoemaking in London.
The awards were presented to the following students by John Peal, the master of the Cordwainers; Penny Griham, the Cordwainers Clark; William Tustings, a member of the Leathersellers; and Agnes Moricz from the Curriers:
- Oliver Damyan - Placement bursary
- Yuanlu Ma - Currier's Cup of Excellence
- Yi Chun Huang - Leathersellers Designer of the Year and Leathersellers Archive award
- Oliver Bowater - Leathersellers emerging talent
- Holly Mead - Cordwainers Bags and Accessories bursary
- Eleanor Hodson - Cordwainers Footwear bursary
- Ethan Robinson - Cordwainers Footwear bursary
- Daniel Charkow - Cordwainers Cup of Excellence and Jimmy Choo Dato award
- Misra Artiky - Jimmy Choo Dato award
- Kate Charles - Cordwainers prize for sustainability
- Barney Wardlaw - Cordwainers Archive award
- Lucrezia Ive - Jimmy Choo Dato Award
- Xiangle Li - Jimmy Choo Dato Award runner up
- Suzette Selano Richards - MA Scholarship
One remarkable success story is that of Suzette Selano Richards, a recipient of a full scholarship for her MA in Footwear. Coming from a family of shoemakers, with her roots tracing back to Jamaica, Suzette's passion for footwear design is deeply ingrained in her lineage.
Her son, who now designs for Nike, has followed in the family's tradition too. Suzette expresses profound gratitude for the scholarship, as it made it financially possible for her to pursue her dream course. Her story is a testament to the profound impact of the Cordwainers' support in shaping the careers of promising designers.
The shoe trade in the UK may have changed over the years, but the commitment to preserving and nurturing talent remains as crucial as ever. To encourage students and sustain the craft, LCF's Cordwainers course undertakes various initiatives. Scholarships, trade shows, and cash prizes are among the efforts implemented to motivate and inspire students throughout their educational journey. Additionally, the connection with students doesn't end at graduation; we remain invested in guiding and assisting their alumni as they embark on their professional paths - John Peal, Master of the Cordwainers
The evening ended with a celebratory event where students and the LCF staff expressed immense gratitude to the Worshipful Companies of Cordwainers, Curriers and Leathersellers.
- Find out more about BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear
- Find out more about BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories
- Find out more about MA Footwear
- Find out more about LCF's Move
- Explore LCF undergraduate and postgraduate courses
- What’s on at LCF: open days and events
- More LCF Stories
Written by LCF Newsroom Content Creator, Simran Sanghavi - MA Strategic Fashion Marketing.