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Two ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Leicester (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) Footwear Design students have won major prizes at the prestigious Cordwainers Footwear Awards, in recognition of their hard work and creativity.

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Footwear Design students at the Cordwainers Footwear Awards

Jihwi Ahn won the overall competition with her innovative movement-based design, ‘The Unrepeatables’. The win was a welcome boost to her confidence after facing some challenging moments creatively during her degree.

“I’ve had times during my course where I’ve struggled to find a direction I’m happy with regarding my work so this win really means a lot to me,” said the 24-year-old from South Korea.

“This year, we were given a lot of creative freedom and I could choose my own concept which makes winning the overall competition even more meaningful. It’s concluded my university experience in a really positive way and made all the challenges worthwhile.”

Jihwi’s inspiration for her final piece was mobile art, inspired by the work of sculptor Alexander Calder.

About her creative process, Jihwi said: “I knew I wanted to create something around that theme, but I wasn’t sure how to use it in shoe design. When I researched Alexander Calder, I was really inspired.

Jihwi receiving her award

“I had to do a lot of experimenting and ended up making a second prototype to make the shoes more stable. The end result was pieces that are like moving sculptures; the shoes, as well as the person wearing them, are the art.”

Student Bobby Nangla brought a fusion of traditional and digital techniques to his final design, ‘The Digital Cobbler’, which caught the eye of the judges, winning him the Sneaker/Athleisure Award.

Having previously worked for a Northampton footwear manufacturer which focused on heritage methods and design, Bobby was able to nod to this ethos in his final prototype. The introduction of an innovative digital approach- which included featuring 3D printed elements alongside traditional materials- made Bobby the first ever winner of the new award.

“Cordwainers’ ethos is similar to the shoe manufacturer I worked with as an apprentice before starting my degree, so taking part and winning the award really felt like I’d come full circle,” said the 24-year-old from Kettering.

The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers has existed since 1272 and in 2014 it launched the annual Cordwainers Footwear Awards, sharing its 750 years of expertise with students.

Bobby receiving the Sneaker/Athleisure award

“It was really good to network and speak to people who are doing the same thing as me. Gaining that insight and support from really high levels of the industry was great. They were really open with passing on the knowledge,” Bobby said about the event.

Bobby and Jihwi will continue to benefit from this knowledge as part of their prizes. They will be paired with industry mentors who will give them advice and guidance on their future careers.

Bobby hopes to use the opportunities brought about by his win and the skills he’s learned on his course to work for a sports footwear company before eventually starting his own brand.

“The course has shown me how many elements there are to footwear design and what challenges you can face. It really teaches you all the skills you need and pushes you to show your creativity. I think this win will build on everything I’ve learned and help me reach my goals,” said Bobby.

Jihwi has used her success at the competition to reflect on her university experience and what the future holds for her career.

“I feel so grateful and I can’t put into words how it feels to have been given the overall award. I can really see what I’ve achieved from my university journey and the whole process has been a great life lesson,” she said.

“I’m excited to experience the real industry and to use everything I’ve learned so far to create actual products for people to buy and wear. I can’t wait to see what comes next.”

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