De Montfort student wins Cordwainers Footwear Awards
A footwear design student at De Montfort University in Leicester, Jihee Ahn, is the winner of the 2021 Cordwainers Footwear Awards.
Students from De Montfort, the University of Northampton and London College of Fashion took part in the competition, submitting their portfolios digitally owing to covid-19.
Second prize went to Kamile Peleckyte from London College of Fashion, with Reuben Crabbe, also from the London College of Fashion picking up the third prize. A special sustainability award went to Louise Pietrzyk, another London College of Fashion student, while there was a commendation for Maartje den Boer from De Montfort University.
Jihee Ahn said studying footwear design and working on her portfolio in the middle of the pandemic had been unusual, be she said she was honoured to win first prize and that the experience had made her proud of her designs.
Her portfolio includes Dash, an idea inspired by McLaren cars, and Emit, which uses the energy of wearers’ steps to create shoes that activate a light-bulb while you walk.
Head judge, Katie Greenyer, the creative director of Pentland Brands, said that judging the students’ portfolios had been like “entering into the minds of passionate, extremely talented footwear designers”. She said this year’s entries were a credit to the three participating universities and the staff who work there.
Master of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers, the London livery company that runs the awards, Peter Lamble, said: “The awards embody the company’s core purpose, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to supporting the footwear industry and student footwear designers.”
Image shows Emit, by Jihee Ahn.
