University of Northampton students join industry glitterati at the National Footwear Student of the Year awards

Five budding footwear designers were chosen to represent the University of Northampton in this year’s Cordwainers National Footwear Student of the Year awards.

The competition was hosted by the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers for the third year and students from the University of Northampton were invited to enter, alongside students from De Montfort University and London College of Fashion.

In 2014, University of Northampton student Helen Kirkum was awarded first prize and received her certificate from the legendary Jimmy Choo. This year, five Northampton students took part in the competition – Heather Jenkinson, Adele Jolley, Stacie Franks, Tiffany Ruff and Laura Pickering – and were all invited to the awards dinner on Thursday 9 June at the Clothworkers’ Hall in London.

The judging team were three highly respected members of the footwear trade: Katie Greenyer, Creative Director of Pentland Brands, footwear designer Guy West, of Northampton-based Jeffery-West and shoe designer Atalanta Weller. The awards were presented by John Saunders, Chief Executive of the British Footwear Association and guests had the opportunity to hear from shoe designer and Cordwainers College alumna, Sophia Webster.

Caroline Southernwood, Senior Lecturer at the University of Northampton and Liveryman of the Cordwainers Company said:  “We are honoured that our students have the opportunity to take part in this very prestigious competition, which celebrates and recognises talented young designers specialising in footwear. The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers supports all three universities with generous bursaries which help facilitate and enable the students to pursue their chosen career path.”

The Cordwainers has a strong charitable ethos and as a world leader in the education and support of the shoe industry, their primary focus is to nurture young talent, providing bursaries to students and entrepreneurs enabling them to become top shoe designers.