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ZHNew footwear facility at British university
Budding shoe designers at the University of Northampton now have a brand-new workshop in which to produce their footwear creations. According to a University spokesperson, the new facility will now provide footwear students with additional space for their work and complements the existing studios and range of workshops already on campus.
The workshop was officially opened on 19th March by John Miller, clerk to the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers. Other representatives of the footwear industry in attendance included John Saunders, chief executive of the British Footwear Association.
The opening of the new facility coincides with the launch of the standalone BA (Hons) Footwear and Accessories programme, which is intended to provide students with the necessary creative skills and technical knowledge to design footwear. Footwear students also have the opportunity to use the facilities in the University’s Institute for Creative Leather Technologies.
Mr Miller said in his speech: “We’ve always felt there’s great opportunity for Northampton as the centre of the shoe industry and the University has the ability to build on the pedigree of the footwear industry that’s based here – Northampton is where it all happens and that’s a great advantage for its students.”
Dr Julie King, subject leader for fashion and textiles at the University commented: “We are all delighted to have such an incredible resource now available to our footwear and accessories students. It will help them become more technically proficient than ever before and builds on the amazing footwear heritage of Northampton.”
Photograph shows Professor Nick Petford, University of Northampton vice chancellor (on left), Dr Julie King, subject leader for fashion and textiles and John Miller, clerk to the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers meeting recent graduate Helen Kirkum.
Publishing Data
This article was originally published on page 4 of the May 2015 issue of SATRA Bulletin.
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