Footwear industry figures reward design talent
27/11/2008
Daniel Rubin, executive chairman of footwear retail group Dune, and Richard Paice, president of an industry charity, Footwear Friends, have awarded a new scholarship to the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London’s fashion footwear course.
The first recipient is 28 year-old Chau Har Lee from London, a second year master’s student specialising in women’s fashion footwear at the RCA.
Mr Rubin commented: “We are extremely lucky in this country to have a wealth of creative talent in footwear design. The RCA is an outstanding educational institution where this talent can be nurtured and developed at the highest level. However, in today's climate, designers have to make considerable sacrifices to continue their studies and develop their creative and technical skills. Dune is very pleased to be involved with this inaugural scholarship, which we hope will support a student financially so that they can focus their energies on developing their design—something which is at the heart of Dune’s business.”
After a difficult choice, Mr Rubin and Mr Paice decided Ms Lee should receive the award as her ambition is to set up her own footwear label in London after graduating next July. After studying footwear design at undergraduate level she has also worked in the footwear industry for several years.
Professor Wendy Dagworthy, Head of Fashion at the RCA said: “Footwear design is an important specialism within the world of fashion but it is often overlooked by industry in terms of helping new designers. This scholarship is very welcome, the financial assistance will not only help support a student but may also help to secure the future of footwear design in the UK.”
The RCA offers a footwear specialism within its fashion programme. Recent alumni of the course include Georgina Goodman and Camilla Skovgaard.
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