The annual London College of Fashion (LCF) Enterprise Challenge, now in its 9th year, is fast approaching! Our business ideas competition is designed to support entrepreneurial students, helping them become the next generation of innovators.
This year, the competition saw an impressive number of applications, all showcasing talented innovative ventures from our LCF students and recent graduates. Our panel of expert short-listing judges, from Mango StartUp Studio, Eyes on Talent and Dazed Media, narrowed the submissions down to 5 finalists, who will all compete for a share of £10,000!
The diversity of ideas in the pitch submissions, from social enterprises tackling pressing societal challenges to commercial ventures bringing new solutions to the market, truly shows the breadth of knowledge and talent within the LCF community. Finalists will go on to pitch their ideas to our panel of esteemed judges on Thursday, 19 June at LCF's East Bank campus, demonstrating their vision, business potential, and impact:
The 5 business ideas represent a diverse mix of social and commercial creative enterprises, each with the potential to make a significant impact. With just a few weeks until the annual LCF Enterprise Challenge 2025, let's meet this year's finalists making waves in the industry.
Koshik offers footwear that carries meaning.
What value proposition does your business offer to your targeted audience?
It’s designed for people who care about identity, heritage, and craftsmanship. Each piece is rooted in Armenian cultural history and reimagined for today. Starting with a shoe inspired by the world’s oldest known leather shoe, discovered in Armenia, and reworked into a clean, modern silhouette.
Koshik is more than just a fashion brand. Koshik is a voice. A way to tell stories that have lasted thousands of years and to share Armenian culture with the world through design. We’ve preserved the spirit of the original 5,500-year-old shoe, its lacing system, and brought it into a contemporary context. It’s literally history you can wear.
Our audience wants more than just fashion; they want something they can connect with. They value authenticity, thoughtful design, and cultural relevance. Koshik is for people who discover brands through concept stores or independent platforms, not the high street. They care about where things come from and why they matter. For them, fashion is personal — and so is Koshik.
Why is your business idea needed?
There’s so much noise in fashion right now. Trends move fast, but the stories behind products often feel empty. Koshik is about slowing down and reconnecting with origin. It brings visibility to Armenian culture, which is often underrepresented, and uses design to preserve and celebrate that heritage.
Koshik is my personal interpretation of Armenian heritage. Koshik is a way to express myself, to share the richness of our culture, and to build global connections with my homeland through design.
For me, it’s also deeply personal. I wanted to create something that feels honest and rooted, not just aesthetically pleasing, but culturally meaningful too.
Why are you excited to be a part of the LCF Enterprise Challenge 2025?
It honestly feels so exciting to be part of this. Being recognised for something that means so much to me is a big moment. I’m also really looking forward to connecting with others on a similar path, learning from their journeys, and growing my project in a more focused way.