Cordwainers’ student awards go ahead despite covid-19
The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers has announced that its National Footwear Student Awards will go ahead in 2020 despite the coronavirus emergency.
With the awards team, students and judges all working remotely, the company is taking advantage of digital technology to ensure that the students can still benefit from what it has called a “career-defining event”.
Master of the company, Nigel Easton, said he was delighted to be able to run the competition in spite of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. He called the competition, which takes place every year, “the embodiment of the Company’s core purpose”, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the footwear industry and student footwear designers.
Students from the three UK universities that run footwear design courses (De Montfort University in Leicester, the University of Northampton and London College of Fashion at the University of the Arts) will submit their portfolios digitally. The judges will deliberate via email and video conference, and the company will then award almost £12,000 in prizes, including a £5,000 prize for the winner.
“We are pleased to be able to continue to celebrate the talent emerging from British universities, especially at a time when final-year students are facing disruption to their studies and degree awards,” Mr Easton said.
All three universities responded by saying they were delighted their students, who have worked hard on their submissions, will have the chance to take part in the competition albeit in a different format. They said the students welcome the connection the Cordwainers’ competition gives them to the wider footwear industry. They said the use of new technology would bring a fresh feel to the competition.
Winners of this year’s awards will be announced in June and the Cordwainers’ Company is hoping to mark the achievements of the talented students with an awards ceremony in the autumn.
