ARTEFACT FOOTWEAR PATTERN FUTURES at London Design Festival: MA Fashion Artefact

Challenging the notion of how products change & influence the world we live in, ARTEFACT FOOTWEAR PATTERN FUTURES at London Design Festival exhibits selected work from London College of Fashion’s MA Artefact, MA Footwear, MA Pattern and Garment Technology and MA Fashion Futures graduates.  The exhibition opens on Thursday 19 September at the Old Sorting Office, Chelsea, part of the London Design Festival Chelsea Design District.

Ken Xu

Tell us a bit about your work?

Some iconic and timeless luxury fashion pieces don't lose their value as time passes. These iconic pieces not only play indispensable roles in fashion history, but can also be reinterpreted and reappropriated to become contemporary art pieces and again participate in the current and future fashion world. In my works, the use of materials, structure and details are drastically different from the originals, but the pieces will still communicate the feeling of the original works to the viewers and even more, create new contemporary value.

How was your experience at LCF?

Fashion Artefact is a completely unique experience for everyone, tailored to your personal mindset, learning goals and development objectives. Tutors and technicians will provide you with the coaching, support and help you need to develop a design concept from start to finish while the main idea is formed and developed by yourself. It really is a fascinating and helpful course.

It can be busy and stressful at times, especially when trying to achieve better design and making outcomes, but meanwhile, I had a rich and meaningful experience and met a lot of interesting people here.

Your advice for future students?

Explore as many materials and techniques as possible.

Cuishu Kong

Tell us a bit about your work?

I researched traditional Chinese and Korean culture for questioning and put forward gender social status problems. Deconstructed traditional headwears into fashion artefact by my own developed weaving technique.

How was your experience at LCF?

My experience at LCF was super exciting and intensive. They have the best tutors and technicians, we built a close connection and shared opinions. LCF helped lift myself into a master level of designer. I love the atmosphere here and I learned lots of things and enjoyed the course very much.

Your advice for future students?

Don't waste your time, experiment more, watch the both design and making details.

Annabelle Law

Tell us about your work?

My final collection centered on catcalling and sexual harassment towards women, both throughout history and today. I particularly focused on how women responded to this through art and protest and by researching and exploring through making, it allowed me to respond to it myself.

How was your experience at LCF?

MA Fashion artefact was the most challenging experience, both educationally and personally. The course pushes past your self-imposed boundaries and enables you to evolve as both a researcher and a maker. Thanks to the first-class technician team and facilities, it really helps you grow and mature as a creative.

LCF has been my home for the past four years and it has nurtured and cared for me in so many ways. I'm lucky to have made lifelong friends and industry connections that I wouldn't have made anywhere else. The facilities and technical staff at LCF are second to none and really help you grow as a person and a maker. LCF will push you both academically and creatively and help you to grown into an accomplished maker.

Your advice for future students?

I would really read up about the course and ensure it is right for you, both educationally and financially as it really is a huge undertaking. However if it is right for you then you'll thrive in ways you couldn't imagine.

Yuxing Jiang

Tell us about your work?

I hope to alleviate some people's prejudice against homosexuality through design. Let people know that the daily life of homosexuals may be the same as that of heterosexuals. I obtained the overall shape of the final design by observing the connection space of the intimate behavior between lesbian couples, and then extracted some lesbian-like titles by investigating lesbian historical materials in Chinese history, such as grinding mirrors and self-combing, golden orchids, etc., extract these elements and form together with overall shape to get this set of artefacts.

How was your experience at LCF?

I really enjoyed my time studying MA Fashion Artefact. This course taught me not only craft skills, but also how to research and become more business minded. I would describe my time at LCF busy, but fun. I learned a lot here and met a lot of very interesting people.

Your advice for future students?

My main piece of advice would be try to learn as many new techniques as you physically can whilst you're here.

Xiaotu Tang

Tell us about your work?

There is a need for greater awareness of everyday waste and pollution. Xiaotu wants to explore up-cycling in the context of heritage craftsmanship, as well as popular culture such as pop art. In doing so she aims to question the way we often view value materials. The pieces she creates are made out of recycled food packaging, plastic bottles and aluminum cans, bring together the most traditional and refined craftsmanship with contemporary culture. This is a challenge to demonstrate that fashion artefacts can be an agent in delivering a powerful message on the current environmental issues in design.

How was your experience at LCF?

Both inspiring and exciting.

Your advice for future students?

Have fun!

• Find out more about MA Fashion Artefact
• Visit Artefact Footwear Pattern Futures
• Discover more about Postgraduate Courses at LCF
• What’s on at LCF: open days and events
• More LCF Stories