Coventry University students are high fliers in the fashion world…
Two students from Coventry University’s School of Art & Design have made waves in the world of fashion with success on the catwalk and a slot at one of the industry’s leading magazines.
Jenna Baxter (pictured), a second year fashion student, showcased one of her designs at the first Paris Fashion Week of 2013 while Lindsay Darcy, also in her second year, has taken up a highly coveted spot in the Australian HQ of fashion bible, Vogue.
Jenna is currently on a year’s placement as part of her degree course, working in Amsterdam for Dutch Designer Iris van Herpen, whose fourth collection for Paris took on the theme of electricity featuring 3D printed ensembles. Jenna created a stunning silver dress which made it onto the catwalk as part of the collection and her sparkling geometric design wowed the Parisian audiences at the show in January.
Jenna’s stint in Holland, which began in August 2012, was set up by the University’s International Experience and Mobility Service (IEMS), which helps students and graduates to gain valuable work experience abroad to boost their career prospects.
Jenna is relishing the experience and is delighted with how it’s working out. She said:
“It’s fantastic to be working with an acclaimed designer like Iris van Herpen and the opportunities that this has given me, like being part of Paris Fashion week, have been amazing. It was brilliant to be involved in what is a major date in the fashion calendar and to see my design on the catwalk was incredible.
“I’m also really enjoying my time in Holland. To be able to say that you’ve lived and worked in a different country is a real asset in the fashion industry so I’m enormously grateful to the University for the help and support they’ve given in setting me up here.”
During her year on placement, Lindsay Darcy has worked in London for lifestyle news network LS: N Global and fashion trend forecasting agency Trendstop. Lindsay impressed during her time in the capital, so much so in fact that both companies have offered her a job when she graduates next year.
Vogue Australia was similarly wowed by Lindsay’s credentials after she sent them her résumé and she’s been working there since January. Like Jenna, Lindsay has been supported on her placement by the IEMS.
Lindsay Darcy said:
“I loved my time in London and to be working for Vogue Australia in Sydney is a dream come true. Fashion is a really competitive business but the experience I’ve gained from being on placement has given me a major career boost. I’m really grateful to the University for the help they’ve given in fixing me up and for the continued support they offer. ”
Ann Muirhead, head of fashion at Coventry University, said:
“We’re really proud of Jenna and Lindsay. They’ve done amazingly well to have made such an impression on two of the major players in the fashion world.
“They’re both very talented and have worked ever so hard to get where they are. We’re happy to have helped them along the way and we’d like to think that their success is testimony to the quality of the courses offered at Coventry University and the opportunities that our students get during their time with us.”
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Tags: Ann Muirhead, Business Information Portal, Coventry University, IEMS, International Experience and Mobility Service, Iris van Herpen, Jenna Baxter, Lindsay Darcy, LS: N Global, Paris Fashion Week, The BIP, Trendstop, Vogue, West Midlands BIP
