Fashion Student's Winning T-Shirt Design On Sale In H&M Stores

Luqman Ali, a budding fashion & design student from Waltham Forest College is aspiring to become the next new label on the High Street. Luqman, otherwise known as Luke, was awarded first prize for his t-shirt design, as part of Project Blackbook for H&M. The design is on sale in every H&M store throughout the UK. He said, “Techno print is quite a common technique now in this industry – and as one of my portfolio pictures was very innovative, I decided it would work – I was confident it would win!”

Luke studied GCSE Textiles at school and then progressed to Waltham Forest College to study a BTEC National Diploma in Fashion and Clothing. Before Luke came to the College he was unsure about his future career. Luke comments “I came to enrolment week at Waltham Forest College and looked around and thought I would give it a chance. Now I love it because I can carry on with my progression and interest in Fashion.”

Luke has taken part in numerous fashion events such as the London Fashion Week, The Colleges Fashion Show, Alternative Fashion Week at Old Spitalfields Market, Fashion Ryot, and many more. These events together with his course, will take Luke to new heights. Luke added, “I love design and business studies because I feel these are my strongest skills and provide me with a firm understanding and knowledge of the industry.”

Luke is inspired by famous designers like Vivienne Westwood. He says, “She is amazing, she started the whole Check and Punk thing. I also really like Julian MacDonald for glamour and Christian Dior for the classic and sophisticated look. Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto is very intelligent and portrays this in his design. I like the way he incorporates his culture into his designs.”

Luke’s experience at the College has been positive and helped him achieve his goals and aspire to strive for more. Luke says, “I have learned a lot and I feel like I have grown into a better person and more confident.”

Luke will move on to study a BA Hons in Fashion at Rochester University for the Creative Arts and eventually sees himself working for a small brand to establish and gain experience along the way. Ultimately he would like to have his own label.

College Fashion Students ‘Sock it to Me’ at Altenative Fashion Week

The creative work of fashion students from Waltham Forest College in North East London, was amongst those taking the catwalk on Friday 23rd April at Alternative Fashion Week 2010. The College’s students took centre stage, showcasing their designs in front of the world’s press and key figures in the fashion industry.

The work of 10 students, on the BTEC National Diploma in Fashion and Clothing, made up this year’s collection themed ‘Sock it to Me (Make Do & Mend)’. Students presented a stunning range of shift dresses created by using recycled socks.

Amber Zakrzewski, one of the students whose work was displayed at the event, said: ‘It was really great to see my work being modelled at such a prestigious event and in front of so many people.’

Melanie Boraster, Curriculum Manager at Waltham Forest College, said: ‘This is the 14th year our students’ work has been selected to show at Alternative Fashion Week. It’s a great opportunity to show off the high standard of work produced by our students.’

Seventy of the most original collections, out of hundreds of applications, were selected to show at Alternative Fashion Week, which took place at Spitalfields Traders Market in East London, 19 - 23 April 2010.

Alternative Fashion Week has become a major event on the fashion show calendar, as this is the place where all the best new designers are to be discovered. It provides a genuine alternative for them to present their work directly to the national and international press, the public and the fashion industry. Designers come from all over the UK and this year from Italy, Croatia, Sweden, Finland and the USA as well.

The students’ work featured in the show were Luqman Ali, Shumaila Aslam, Lara Boourchier-Lee, Radua Jassin, Saidah Kitimbo, Femida Mahmood, Niya Mignott-Brock, Sahra Moalim, Sarah Yombo-Djema, Amber Zakrzewski.

The College runs a range of fashion courses to suit people at all levels. The majority of students progress to university or straight into employment, following the successful completion of their courses. For information about courses available at Waltham Forest College please phone 020 8501 8501, email info@waltham.ac.uk or visit www.waltham.ac.uk