Cordwainers at London College of Fashion, UAL, originated as an independent Trade School. It became Cordwainers Technical College in 1913 and in 2000 it merged with London College of Fashion. LCF provide two BA Cordwainers courses in footwear and bags and accessories as well as a postgraduate course in footwear.
Take a tour of LCF's world renowned fashion library, ideal for research and study.
Take a tour of Golden Lane's workshops and leather room.
BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear: Product and Innovation
Graduate work from the LCF summer series 2021
BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories: Product and Innovation
London College of Fashion, UAL and City of London Liveries
In 2008, Cordwainers at London College of Fashion was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education.
2013 marked 125 years of Cordwainers. LCF celebrated with a fundraising gala event in the City of London, attended by HRH The Countess of Wessex (a LCF Better Lives Patron). The event generated a programme of scholarships and awards dedicated to the next generation of footwear and accessories stars.
In recent years, the likes of The Dune Group, Charlotte Olympia, Lulu Guinness and Kurt Geiger have supported the students of Cordwainers through scholarships and placement opportunities.
The Cordwainers Advisory Board, along with LCF Careers ensures students gain industry experience through placements and live industry projects. Recent examples of live footwear briefs include Tommy Hilfiger, Puma, Saks 5th Avenue, H&M and Ted Baker and accessory projects for Topshop, Deni Deni and Bill Amberg.
Courses include an optional year in industry and students have been placed in companies such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Stella, McCartney Prada; Bill Amberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, LVMH, Dune, Jimmy Choo, Y3, Adidas, Sophia Webster, Nicholas Kirkwood, Rupert Sanderson, Tesco F&F, and Topshop.
Cordwainers at London College of Fashion celebrates a successful student and alumni body. Students excel in the Student Footwear Designer of the Year at the National Footwear Awards. Graduates are sought after for their expertise, design aesthetic and industry focus, across the globe.
Graduates have gone on to work for great brands and form their own businesses, such as: Toni Alexander- Royal Opera House in charge of footwear department; Krisha Bejal- Designer - United Nude; Lauren Betourney- Freelance footwear designer - Rag and Bone New York; Phoebe Carter- Junior Designer - River Island; Guillem Turro Casnaovas- Designer - Tommy Hilfiger; Carla Humanes Fernandez - Sophia Webster - general duties; Jack Mcnamara- Design/product development - Hunter; Eleanor Mills - Assistant designer - Topman Topshop.
Cordwainers alumni include Joseph Azagury, Linda (LK) Bennett OBE, Jimmy Choo OBE, Patrick Cox, Emma Hope, MBE, Rupert Sanderson, Georgina Goodman, Nicholas Kirkwood, Sophia Webster, Charlotte Olympia, Beatrix Ong OBE, Camilla Skovgaard, Emily Trotter.
We recently caught up with this year’s recipients, Jayden and Nandika, to hear about their journeys, motivations, and how the scholarship will impact their lives and studies.
LCF graduate Annie Purdy recently joined forces with APICCAPS to create a striking capsule collection blending experimental design with traditional Portuguese shoemaking.
APICCAPS’ recent collaboration with LCF’s BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear course gave students expert industry insight and recognition for responsible and innovative footwear designs.
As part of their Year 2 studies, BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear students at London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL, were challenged by British footwear institution Russell & Bromley to reimagine what it means to design shoes that are truly ‘Built to
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