Sophie Park, a graduate of London's JCA Fashion Academy I, has been shortlisted for the Draper Shoe Design Student of the Year award. The award is part of the annual Drapers Footwear Awards, the UK's only fashion retail event that honors the best in the sector.
“I am thrilled to be shortlisted for Shoe Design Student of the Year and to be recognized for the great work I did to launch my brand while at JCA. I am a firm believer in the power of change and innovation in the fashion industry and this award could be a potential stepping stone towards realizing my vision,” Sophie Park said .
Sophie Park is a footwear designer bringing to market a range of innovative plant-based designs and an exciting blend of new materials. She is one of the first graduates of the MA in Fashion Entrepreneurship, Design and Brand Innovation from the London JCA Fashion Academy I, who was featured as a professional designer at the JCA London Fashion Week show in October 2022.
Queen consort Camilla 'fascinated' by Sophie Park's cactus and banana peel shoes
“Having opened the Academy just eighteen months ago, we are very proud to have one of our founding students nominated for such a prestigious award, especially given Sophie's commitment to the sustainability program on which we are founded. We are also incredibly fortunate to have introduced Sophie to Her Majesty Queen Consort Camilla and we are thrilled to see how the Drapers Award continues to promote her brand.” — Steven Smith, JCA Founder and CEO.
After years of living a vegan lifestyle, Sophie's passion for the plant world has combined with her passion for fashion and shoe design. In her 777 Park collection, she offers a sophisticated, avant-garde, gender-neutral design made from plant-based materials. The collection includes three main styles with a selection of unique androgynous pieces that can be complemented by giving the wearer two or more different shoe styles in one.
The Draper Shoe Design Student of the Year Award was created to recognize the hard work of those breaking into the industry and to encourage a new generation of emerging talent. This category is open to shoe designers currently studying in the UK or Ireland and considers aspects of a designer and their offerings such as evidence of outstanding shoe design, fashion design ideas, final product development, understanding of the commercial and customer needs, market knowledge, also proven technical skills and a passion for shoe design and the industry. The winner will be announced at the Drapers Footwear Awards on June 22nd.
Students and emerging designers can find out more about the London Fashion Academy at JCA.ac.uk.
