PROFESSOR JIMMY CHOO ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF AN INNOVATIVE NEW FASHION
ACADEMY IN THE HEART OF LONDON AIMED AT DELIVERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF
FASHION DESIGN TALENT
January 20th, 2021: Luxury footwear pioneer Professor Jimmy Choo OBE, today announces
the launch of a dynamic new higher education fashion academy in the heart of London, which
is on track to become the UK’s newest university exclusively dedicated to fashion.
Opening its doors this September, the JCA | London Fashion Academy, has been established
through a shared ambition of Professor Choo and the founding team, to nurture the fashion
talent of tomorrow and build on a sector which in the UK generates over £100 billion
annually.*
Situated in London’s Mayfair, the Academy is set to develop the next wave of global fashion designers. Delivering a fresh and transformative take on fashion higher education, the
Academy’s courses combine the latest teachings in contemporary design with the
entrepreneurial skills required to set-up and drive successful fashion brands of the future.
Revolutionising higher education, the JCA introduces a ground-breaking incubation model
where students will be nurtured as emerging professional designers through a mentored
approach and will be provided with a level of access to internationally recognised design
leaders unrivalled by traditional colleges and universities.
“The Academy has been years in planning, so we are delighted to be opening its doors this
September,” said Professor Jimmy Choo. “London is a global fashion hub and has created
many of the world’s most exciting and ground-breaking designers. Rarely though do these
designers leave higher education armed with the combined knowledge, skills and resources
needed to create, launch and build brands successfully on the global stage. The Academy will
help bridge those gaps and truly nurture internationally-focused and highly entrepreneurial
design talent.”
The Academy will
help bridge those gaps and truly nurture internationally-focused and highly entrepreneurial
design talent.”
Housed in a Grade I period property, its campus is situated a stone’s throw from Savile Row,
the cradle of tailoring-led global craftsmanship, the Academy building has been meticulously
repurposed to provide its students with a boutique environment and one of the most
advanced seats of fashion design learning in London.
The JCA | London Fashion Academy has curated a syllabus inspired by Professor Jimmy Choo’s
experiences in building his own luxury super-brand as well as the multi-faceted skill sets which
fashion designers increasingly need in today’s ultra-competitive multi-channel global
landscape.
From the starting-line of their academic lives with the Academy, students will have a couture styled experience and be encouraged to establish themselves creatively and commercially as
design-led business people. Key to this educational approach is a commitment to commercial
incubation, carefully curating a dynamic creative hub that provides students with a ready
made fashion community that works to support and provide vital networks around their
business needs.
“Fundamental to the DNA of the Academy is the focused interest in supporting aspiring designers to transition between higher education and entrepreneurship”, states Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of the JCA | London Fashion Academy. “At the Academy we will professionally incubate our students as emerging designers through a mentored approach, supporting them through our extensive network of global fashion contacts. This means our students will begin their professional lives from the moment they enter the Academy, developing their craft by establishing their own brand label, working in professional studios and through exhibiting, showcasing and trading in a luxury Mayfair location.”
The JCA’s Mayfair building will also play a pivotal role in re-galvanising London’s fashion community post-pandemic and has been established as Mayfair’s international hub for all those interested in design and luxury brands. Taking inspiration from and disrupting the boundaries from the likes of the V&A, Royal College of Art, Parsons New York and Somerset House, the facility will be more than just an educational academy, providing contemporary co-working spaces for fashion start-ups, gallery and exhibition space and a calendar of networking and fashion-focused events.
Supported by the government from an early planning stage, the JCA | London Fashion Academy underwent rigorous assessment by the Office for Students and its Quality Assurance
Agency and was officially designated in Autumn 2020. “It is brilliant to see new exciting and innovative institutions expanding the boundaries of higher education as a result of Government reforms,” states Universities Minister Michelle Donelan. “It is vital that students gain the practical skills and hands-on experience that employers and industries need and the JCA’s revolutionary approach can help students hit the ground running into a successful career.”
The JCA | London Fashion Academy, along with its validating partner, The University of West
London, will provide four carefully selected courses for its opening year:
. Foundation Diploma in Fashion
. BA (Hons) Fashion: Design, Branding and Entrepreneurship
. BA (Hons) Fashion: Design & Accessories
. MA Fashion Entrepreneurship in Design & Brand Innovation
Students and emerging designers can discover more information about the JCA and apply for
courses from today via the website, www.JCA.ac.uk. The academy will also offer bursaries to
a select number of students.
