Introducing Lecia Finch: the much sought after fashion buyer for Fenwicks, one of the top department stores in London. Lecia Finch attended a private view at Kensington and Chelsea College and within minutes chose twelve hats to be featured in Fenwicks. To be precise, in under thirty minutes, her line up was created. A true professional!

Fenwicks is stocking the collection of 12 exclusive and unique designs by the Kensington and Chelsea Millinery students, with the collection already on sale in the Bond Street branch of Fenwicks.

Lecia Finch has stated: ‘The collection selected was based on current trends, colour and designs that have the wow-factor. Fenwicks customers want a unique piece, and that’s what they are getting with the designs from Kensington and Chelsea College.

The student designs tend to get sold fairly quickly. In fact we have people coming in enquiring specifically about the one-off pieces created through the college because they know that no-one else will have anything similar. The level of talent at the college is simply phenomenal.’

This is the perfect time for these architectural and sculptural masterpieces to be featured in Fenwicks as June is the month to seek the perfect head-piece to wear when one attends the races, the tennis or the multitude of garden parties a hot summer promises.

Fenwicks and Kensington and Chelsea College have formed a tight union over that past two years; Fenwicks supports the millinery department, the partnership spurs the students further and the unique bold designs are exactly what Fenwicks customers desire. Something to be seen in and stand out with!

‘They’ve been quite adventurous in the selection of student designs and have given students a brilliant platform to showcases their skills and creativity to paying customers. The experience has also given students a greater working knowledge of the business side of millinery,’ – Gill Ingham, head of creative arts and media at Kensington and Chelsea College.

The relationship does not stop there. Fenwicks commissioned Melissa Pemberton-Pigott, a graduate of the college in 2009, to create a 2010 ‘Ascot’ collection. This collection is riding high and featured prominently in their window displays.

This partnership between Fenwicks and Kensington and Chelsea College is a fantastic initiative and is a great opportunity for students. We at  Ysh think it would be great if more stores and companies offered these opportunities to colleges and students in the future.

Well done to all involved!

Image courtesy of Fashion Insight