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Emoke Stefan

University of Northampton

Fashion Design BFA

Sustainable Design, Womenswear, Jewellery

Hi, I’m Em, a fashion design graduate from University of Northampton I am a sustainable fashion designer who specialises in innovating post-production waste. My research focuses on transforming leather offcuts sourced from nearby shoe factories into fashion products. By repurposing leather remnants, which are sent to landfill, I aim to minimise waste and contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry.

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The Boatpack

Category: Accessories

Competitions: UK, International

Northampton is known for its shoe-making heritage. This gave me the possibility to visit one of the local shoe factories, Tricker's. During the visit, I noticed some very interesting leather shoe offcuts. For the factory, these offcuts were a problem, namely 12 tonnes of leather waste per year. To me, the offcuts were unique leather pieces that needed to be altered and then innovated into wearables. While sampling and testing, I noticed that the shoe offcuts resembled the internal structure of a Viking longboat. Drawing inspiration from my love for backpacks and the historical influence of Viking craftsmanship, I came up with the Boatpack. I also used deadstock zipstoppers, to introduce some metallic elements present on the boats. This fusion of ideas resulted in a one-of-a-kind backpack design that seamlessly merges the legacy of Northampton's shoemaking heritage with the Viking Longboats. Materials: beige leather shoe offcuts, metal zipstoppers, padding for the back of the backpack and deadstock leather.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.