LCF News recently caught up with Gerda to discuss sustainable fashion, why she chose to study at LCF and what she liked most about studying a postgraduate.
MA Fashion Design Management student Gerda Micke
What did you study before your current MA?
I completed a Fashion Menswear degree at Middlesex University, where I developed my drawing, pattern cutting and tailoring skills. After being selected from more than 100 students to present my final collection at the Truman Brewery, I participated in an enterprise program at the Prince Trust’s organisation in order to launch my own fashion label.
As my undergraduate mainly focused on practical skills, I undertook two short courses at LCF, Luxury Brand Management and Fashion Marketing. The passionate and knowledgeable lecturers inspired me to study a postgraduate, so I applied to MA Fashion Design Management.
Why did you choose LCF?
LCF has the best reputation among fashion universities worldwide, its also located in a vibrant global fashion capital – this helped my decision.
What was your favourite thing about studying in London?
London is a very cosmopolitan city, where you can meet people from all over the world. You are constantly exposed to different cultures and ideas. London is also one of the world’s few fashion capitals with inspiration everywhere, from major events like London Fashion Week to the many fashion exhibitions on offer.
Editorial in Huf magazine. Designs and styling by Gerda Micke
Can you tell us a little bit about your final project and dissertation please?
During the Fashion Branding unit of MA Fashion Design Management and Open Morning events of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, I became very interested in some of the sustainability issues of the fashion supply chain. This motivated me to research the supply chain further and pinpoint the deeper problems. There has been a few studies recently about increasing luxury consumers’ awareness of ethical issues, more people in developing countries are concerned about the environment and social responsibility. I decided to focus my dissertation on cultural attitudes and differences towards sustainable luxury in emerging and developed countries.
What do you like most about your course, and what have you found most challenging?
The thing I liked most was the balance between individual work and team projects. The Collaborative Unit was an opportunity for you to team up not only with your classmates, but also with industry partners. I applied one of the design thinking techniques, the Belbin’s model, to analyse each of the team member’s skills in order to maximise the groups work potential.
I was also selected for three projects: Kering’s Empowering Imagination project, the Rejuvenating of Diesel Global Flagship Store and LeKasha’s Universe project. The team work and management was very exciting but challenging at the same time, here creative thinking plays a big part.
A garment from one of Gerda Micke’s collections.
What would be your top three tips for prospective students?
- Try to attend all LCF networking events.
- Participate in the lectures and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
- Always team up with classmates from different cultures, as you can learn to approach an issue from a different perspective.
What is your plan for after you finish your MA?
My long term goal is to continue my initiative and finally launch my sustainable fashion label. However, after graduating, I want to work for a couple of years at an already established sustainable fashion company in order to gain knowledge and business experience.