Coventry University students are high fliers in the fashion world

Two students from Coventry University’s School of Art & Design have made waves in the world of fashion with success on the catwalk and a slot at one of the industry’s leading magazines.

Jenna Baxter, a second year fashion student, showcased one of her designs at the first Paris Fashion Week of 2013 while Lindsay D’Arcy, also in her second year studying the same subject, has taken up a highly coveted spot in the Australian HQ of fashion bible, Vogue.

Jenna is currently on a year’s placement as part of her degree course, working in Amsterdam for Iris van Herpen. The Dutch designer’s fourth collection for Paris took on the theme of electricity featuring 3D printed ensembles and Jenna created a stunning silver dress, which made it onto the catwalk as part of the collection. Her sparkling geometric design wowed the Parisian audiences in January.

Jenna’s stint in Holland, which began in August 2012, was set up by the University’s International Experience and Mobility Service (IEMS), which helps students and graduates to gain valuable work experience abroad to boost their career prospects.

Jenna is relishing the experience and is delighted with how it’s working out. She said:

It’s fantastic to be working with an acclaimed designer like Iris van Herpen. The opportunities that this placement has given me, like being part of Paris Fashion week, have been amazing. It was brilliant to be involved in what is a major date in the fashion calendar and to see my design on the catwalk was incredible.

I’m also really enjoying my time in Holland. To be able to say that you’ve lived and worked in a different country is a real asset in the fashion industry so I’m enormously grateful to the University for the help and support they’ve given in setting me up here.

During her year on placement, Lindsay D’Arcy has worked in London for lifestyle news network LS: N Global and fashion trend forecasting agency Trendstop. Lindsay impressed during her time in the capital, so much so in fact that both companies have offered her a job when she graduates next year. 

Vogue Australia was similarly impressed by Lindsay’s credentials after she sent them her résumé and she’s been working there since January. Like Jenna, Lindsay has been supported on her placement by the IEMS.

Lindsay D’Arcy said:

I’ve gained so much from my placement. Beginning in London, was originally quite intimidating but being thrown in the deep end gave me the confidence to apply and move on to bigger and better opportunities. As soon as I got one placement done, I was more skilled and more eager to keep improving my CV.

Working for Vogue Australia, based in Sydney is amazing and I’m glad I applied. So I thank my tutors and the university for its help and support along my exciting journey.

Ann Muirhead, head of fashion at Coventry University, said:

We’re really proud of Jenna and Lindsay. They’ve done amazingly well to have made such an impression on two of the major players in the fashion world.

They’re both very talented and have worked ever so hard to get where they are. We’re happy to have helped them and we’d like to think that their success is testimony to the quality of the courses offered at Coventry University and the opportunities that our students get during their time with us.

For further information and images, please contact Mark Farnan, communications officer, Coventry University, on +44 (0)24 7765 8245 or email mark.farnan@coventry.ac.uk.