Two fashion students from Bath Spa University will be travelling to America to spend a three month internship with GAP-owned clothing and accessories company Old Navy.
Lauren Mather and Philippa Robinson have been selected as two of only 12 students from the UK who will spend 12 weeks with the San Francisco-based company this summer.
Louise Pickles, Course Leader and Coordinator of Fashion, and her team at Bath Spa have been developing a relationship with Old Navy and this year, Bath Spa was invited to take part in their annual design project along with other high profile fashion courses from universities across the UK.
The brief theme for the project was ‘We are Family!’ and the students were asked to focus on a Spring 2014 collection. Building on the heritage of the Old Navy brand, they were tasked to design a collection inspired by denim, tee-shirts and sweatshirts that fit into the DNA of the Old Navy brand. Students could choose to design for men, women, girls, or boys wear.
Design and human resources directors from Old Navy recently visited Bath Spa’s fashion studio and viewed the work where they selected seven students to interview with their full portfolio.
Of the seven selected students, three Bath Spa students were shortlisted to compete for the 12 available places with Lauren and Philippa making it into the final 12.
Not only is this a highly prestigious opportunity and experience, full expenses will be funded by Old Navy and the students will be paid an hourly intern rate.
Commenting on Lauren and Philippa’s success, Louise Pickles said: “It is a real testament to the success of the course to be invited to collaborate with such a successful high profile overseas brand, and for our students to compete against students from some of the strongest UK fashion design courses.
“I am thrilled that Lauren and Philippa have been given this amazing opportunity and wish them every success for what I am sure will be an exciting, and insightful, summer at the Old Navy headquarters in San Francisco.”
The Fashion course at Bath Spa is extremely successful producing many talented and skilful designers. Most recently, fashion student Stephanie Kitchen won the 2013 Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) competition and Bath Spa Alumna Chloe Jones, who won both the Gold Award and Womenswear Award at Graduate Fashion Week 2013. Chloe’s new collection for George at ASDA has also recently been launched.
