Charlotte Olympia launches footwear scholarship

British luxury footwear and accessories brand Charlotte Olympia has created a new scholarship at Cordwainers at the London College of Fashion, part of the University of the Arts London.

The scholarship will allow one student to complete the three final years of the four-year BA (Hons) Footwear: Product Design and Innovation Course, starting from the 2015/16 academic year. The recipient will also receive a paid internship at Charlotte Olympia to gain hands-on experience during the second year of the scholarship.

This marks the first dedicated footwear BA scholarship to launch as part of the British Fashion Council Education Foundation, which aims to attract young people into the industry through scholarships and vocational routes, with Cordwainers chosen as that is where the brand’s founder and creative director Charlotte Olympia Dellal completed her BA footwear design course.

The selection process will involve the strongest first year students, handpicked by the course director, who will present their portfolios to a panel of leading fashion industry judges, including Dellal, BFC ambassador for emerging talent Sarah Mower MBE, Business of Fashion founder Imran Amed and Harrods fashion director Helen David.

Charlotte Olympia launches scholarship as part of the BFC Education Foundation

Commenting on the scholarship, Dellal said: “I am very happy to be giving something back to a school which provided me with the skills and confidence to create by own luxury brand and build a career in an industry I love.”

Highlighting the need for this new scholarship, Sarah Mower, BFC Ambassador for emerging talent added: “I would like to express my admiration for Charlotte for coming forward to support a scholarship at Cordwainers. Charlotte sets an example as a businesswoman and entrepreneur with her glamorous and witty signature accessories. In establishing this award, she is also a standard-bearer for philanthropy in education, at a time when students' financial struggle to meet the rising costs of fees and living has never been so acute.

“In joining with objectives of the British Fashion Council Education Foundation, Charlotte's generosity and mentorship will ensure a bright future for the next talents in accessories - a sector which holds the promise of excellent career prospects."

The scholarship will be a rolling scheme, available for the top first year’s students to apply, with the first winning student starting their scholarship this September.

Images: Charlotte Olympia