Meet BA (Hons) Fashion Contour student Layla
- Written byJimena Rascon
- Published date 10 July 2023
London College of Fashion (LCF) has two pre-degree courses for international students that offer a practical and theoretical introduction to the three areas of study we offer: fashion design, fashion media and fashion business. Both International Preparation for Fashion (Certificate in Higher Education) (IPF) and Level 3 International Introduction to the Study of Fashion (IISF) courses allow you to explore a range of areas across this vast industry.
We recently caught up with Layla Leunig, who prior to studying her current course BA (Hons) Fashion Contour, studied the International Preparation for Fashion.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose to study a Pre Degree course with LCF?
My name is Layla and I'm going into my second year studying BA (Hons) Fashion Contour. I was born in New York and grew up in Spain. I’ve always known I've wanted to pursue a career in design, and having thoroughly looked through many fashion universities, the International Preparation for Fashion (IPF) course really stood out to me. I chose to study a pre-degree course because I thought it would be beneficial to learn many new skills which would thoroughly prepare me for my future studies.
What led you to apply for your current course?
I went into my pre-degree course wanting to pursue womenswear; however, I was unaware of the many design undergraduate courses within LCF. IPF was great because it opened my eyes to so many pathways which I could go down, and eventually, I found that my work did lean more into Fashion Contour, specifically lingerie design.
Are there any projects you have worked on or are working on and what aspects you enjoyed the most?
A project I have recently completed was an enterprise project. In this I was the Managing Director and, with my team, we had to build a small business and create products to sell on Oxford Street. I loved how hands-on this project was and how UAL offers this kind of interactive learning in their degrees! I was able to sell from a business I had helped create in real life and learnt a lot about the processes it took to do so.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of doing a Pre Degree course at LCF?
I would say it's a great choice if you want to study a fashion degree but don't know exactly where in the industry you fit in. There are so many roles within fashion that I didn't even know about until I did my pre-degree course and it opened my eyes as to what my specific skills were and where I could create the most value in fashion. I would say go for it if you're not sure, or even if you just want a trial year of being in London, it's a great option with lots of support and fun things to learn!
What inspires you?
The city of London. As someone who didn't grow up here, I'm constantly amazed about the fact that I get to live in London with so much culture and fashion around me on a daily basis. There's a lot to do here, both fashion and lifestyle-wise, and it's an incredible place to study.
What skills did you learn on your Pre Degree course that you have been able to apply to your current course?
I learnt a lot about the fashion industry in general, but I think the most important thing I took with me into my undergraduate was how to effectively research and apply innovative thinking into every task I do.
What are your plans for the next few years, and where do you want to see yourself professionally?
I will be undertaking an industry placement next academic year, so I look forward to being able to work and get the DiPS experience that UAL offers. After that I see myself graduating, staying in London and ideally working within a fashion company, although I'm still not sure where or what yet. I hope my year in industry and my final year will help me figure it out!
- Find out more about the International Preparation for Fashion at LCF.
- Find out more about BA (Hons) Fashion Contour at LCF.
- View our upcoming Open Days.