Indonesian collaboration for Northumbria fashion students

Two fashion students from Northumbria University, Newcastle, are heading out to Indonesia to observe the manufacture of fabrics and crafts in collaboration with students from the BINUS-Northumbria School of Design (BNSD).

The BNSD partnership, which launched in 2014, has created opportunities for students in Indonesia to study UK university degrees, in response to a growing demand for professionals in the creative industries. The joint venture is also creating exciting prospects for UK-based Northumbria students to add an international dimension to their graduate CV by working alongside BNSD students.

Kate Skelton’s winning sketches

Third-year fashion students Hollie Newton (from West Monkseaton, North Tyneside) and Kate Skelton (from Newcastle) are flying to Jakarta this week with senior lecturer, Christopher Hodge to work on a collaborative fashion design project. The work will result in a garment and fabric collection inspired by traditional craftspeople from the West Nusa Tenggara region. BNSD students will create a womenswear collection, while Hollie and Kate will focus on menswear. The final collections will be showcased during Jakarta Fashion Week in November.

Christopher Hodge said: “Hollie and Kate were selected during a competitive process which saw Northumbria fashion students pitching designs to win one of two places to travel to Indonesia. They were chosen for the sensitivity and skills shown in their submissions, along with their in-depth research and fabric development which demonstrated real enthusiasm for the subject.
“The trip will allow them to observe fabrics being woven first hand, and work with local artisans to create new techniques blending their contemporary skills with age-old crafts.

“Attending Jakarta Fashion Week will also provide them with international exposure and invaluable experience to help them prepare for Graduate Fashion Week in London, where they will showcase their final year collections in 2016.”
The trip coincides with news that alumnus from BNSD’s first cohort of graduating students have won prestigious awards, including one at Indonesia Fashion Week 2015.

Minaldi Loeis, Dean, Faculty of Creative Media and Technologies, BINUS University, said: “We are excited to have Northumbria students flying in for the research project and hopeful for their future fashion collections. I am sure the experience in exotic eastern Indonesia will be beneficial to both Northumbria and BINUS students alike.”

For more information about fashion at Northumbria, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/design. This year’s final year fashion students will be showcasing their work at Graduate Fashion Week in May/June.