Fashion designer Patrick McDowell, has been appointed as Ambassador for Sustainability at the JCA | London Fashion Academy. Passionate about creating beautiful clothing, he is also committed to making fashion more sustainable and will be advising students at the London’s newest fashion academy, launched in January and spearheaded by Professor Jimmy Choo.
Officially joining the JCA team this September, Patrick will be giving students a brief overview of his life in fashion at the Academy’s virtual Discovery Day on Saturday 15th May, 2021. He will be talking about his journey from fashion student to being nominated by Vogue’s Anna Wintour for the Stella McCartney Today for Tomorrow Award in November, 2019.
The London based designer, is making waves in the industry for reinventing the roll of a fashion designer, proving that it is not only a designer’s responsibility to create clothing but also to redesign the systems they sit within. In February 2020, McDowell hosted London Fashion Week’s first ever Swap Shop where attendees were able to bring clothes and swap items – the first of its kind at LFW.
Sustainability is at the core of McDowell’s practice as he strives to reinvent luxury through a sustainable mindset. Crafted from reclaimed fabrics and ethically produced materials from the likes of Burberry and Swarovski, his pieces are designed and made with a low carbon footprint in mind. He is a strong advocate for reducing fashion’s global impact through designing with moral practice.
Alongside his role as Sustainability Ambassador at the Academy, McDowell will also be an Associate Lecturer and Visiting Practitioner, advising students on how to have a sustainable mindset when launching a fashion brand.
“I am a huge believer in the importance of creative education”, states Patrick McDowell, “so absolutely thrilled to be joining the JCA team. My role here will be to explore with the students how fashion and sustainability can work hand-in-hand, for an altogether greener future.”
McDowell has also recently been appointed by Italian brand Pinko as its Sustainable Design Director.
Here, he creates Reimagine collections, stocked in Selfridges and Pinko stores worldwide. McDowell uses discarded stock from the brand’s previous collections to upcycle and reimagine new higher value product for the brands customers, while elevating the brand position. He is also a global ambassador for Graduate Fashion Week.
For more information about the JCA | London Fashion Academy and to join the virtual Discovery Day on 15th, May (10am – 12pm), please visit www.jca.ac.uk to book a free ticket.
The Academy is currently taking direct applications for September 2021 and students can apply even if they have submitted their UCAS choices and are holding offers elsewhere.
For further information, please contact Holly Mirza, Fabric PR, holly@fabricpr.com
About the Academy:
- The JCA | London Fashion Academy will provide four carefully selected courses for its opening year:
- Foundation Diploma in Fashion
- BA (Hons) Fashion: Design, Branding and Entrepreneurship
- BA (Hons) Fashion: Design & Accessories
- MA Fashion Entrepreneurship in Design & Brand Innovation
- As a registered and approved provider of higher education, students can access Student Finance to support both tuition and maintenance needs.
- Scholarships will also be available and will be announced soon.
