Jimmy Choo’s former tutor joins the University of Northampton
12/01/2016
Chris Hill, who has over 30 years’ experience in the footwear industry, will now on the BA (Honours) Footwear and Accessories course at Northampton. After graduating with a degree in fashion (specialising in footwear design) from Leicester Polytechnic, she began her career as a footwear designer and pattern cutter for a number of shoe factories in the East Midlands. Later she joined the staff of Cordwainers College in London, becoming its first female lecturer. It was there she taught a new generation of budding shoe designers who were focused on setting up their own businesses, and among these students were Jimmy Choo, Emma Hope and Patrick Cox.
Recalling the experience, Ms Hill has said: “At that time the silhouette of footwear was very heavy and influenced by the Doc Martens or by the minimalist styles of Japanese designers such as Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons. Jimmy had a vision to produce light delicate feminine shoes which were very much at odds with the design sensibility of the time.”
After leaving the Cordwainers, Ms Hill worked in Asia, set up new courses for the London College of Fashion and Central St Martins (now, like Cordwainers, part of the University of the Arts). She also worked as head of footwear for Hobbs before returning to education in 2011 to head up the Cordwainers footwear design course. Some of her more recent students have gone on to work for Alexander McQueen, Ecco and Clarks.
Speaking of her new appointment, she said: “Coming to teach students at the University of Northampton is the culmination of over 30 years in the footwear industry and education side and I am looking forward to a creative future here.”
For her part, Julie King, head of fashion at the University of Northampton, said: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to the university. She brings with her a wealth of experience, both academic and industrial, further strengthening our tremendous footwear and accessories team.”
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