BFC Scholars

Arielle Uno-Ekwang

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Aaron Adkins

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Manchester Fashion Institute

I take heavy inspiration from a variety of spiritual traditions, most notably zen. This, alongside my goal of reducing the waste in my designs as much as possible, has inspired me to create clothing which will age beautifully through experimentation with deconstruction, sustainable methods of repair and natural dyeing methods. Experimental pattern cutting is another core element of my work focusing on the space between the wearer and garment, by playing with structures and large imposing shapes. I combine these larger silhouettes with smaller and more traditionally feminine detailing in an exploration of modern ideas of masculine beauty, which is an area that interests me deeply.

Abdula Ahmad

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

I create art that forces society to face its own reflection—the destruction we call ‘innovation.’ My work is not pessimistic, but is a declaration of absolute truth. As a fashion designer, graphic designer, video editor, and writer, I unravel the deep injustices that define our world, the commodification in humiliating female bodies for the entertainment of the “Male Gaze” in pornography, the centralisation of omnipotent power being given to corrupt politicians who don’t care about us, the dark and twisted fantasies of men revered by the masses, their faces familiar but their sins hidden, forced onto the innocent, yet ambitious women of the world who just want to enrich society. Through the lens of race, gender, and class, I confront the systems that thrive on exploitation, and trauma. My art doesn’t just provoke; it demands that we see the world as it truly is and challenges us to change it, without trying to throw euphemisms everywhere for the sake of temporary happiness. Growing up and seeing women suffer from being pimped out, to seeing children holding guns in my neighbourhood, I have seen enough to inspire me to try to stop the violent bleeding of man through art.

Aliyah Dankwah

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

My design aesthetic embraces my Ghanaian roots while incorporating oversized yet feminine menswear silhouettes. I am inspired by the diverse cultures and traditional craftsmanship within Ghana. This style blends with the structural elements of oversized menswear. I have just completed my first year of university, and I am genuinely excited about the opportunity to build on my identity as a designer during my BA course. Fashion’s strong connection to our physicality and its role as a form of external communication resonates deeply with me. Through my personal experience in school, I learnt that fashion was a language my peers used to find a way to belong. I moved from a school where I felt comfortable and familiar with my environment to a new and unfamiliar school to pursue textiles. This was a turning point for me. These circumstances taught me that we grow by moving away from what we are comfortable with and learning to adapt to new environments. This lesson continues to motivate me as I embark on my BA course while celebrating individuality and embracing cultural pride.

Arielle Uno-Ekwang

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

I am a multidisciplinary artist with a rich tapestry of seven years in the fashion industry: a curator, creative producer, Modern Artisan, fashion and accessories designer. Following my graduation, I unveiled a revolutionary luxury sustainable capsule collection on Net-A-Porter in an esteemed collaboration with YNAP and the Kings Foundation. I am an advocate for cultural sustainability and aim to innovate solutions for textiles waste in West Africa. Blending Afrofuturism with my Nigerian-British identity, the collections tell unique stories, drawing from my textiles and fine art background. One of these narratives had a fashion film screening at the V&A for the African Fashion Exhibition and recently a runway show at the Victoria and Albert Museum, supported by GUAP magazine and My Runway Group, the show was a manifestation of my creative prowess and collaborative spirit. I am committed to sustainability, creating futuristic designs using recycled materials, extending to my brand, praised for redefining the 'it' bag. and honoured as one of the "31 cool British brands" by Who What Wear. I am influenced by traditional craftsmanship, the vibrant essence of London and Nigerian culture, pushing boundaries in design and sustainability, carving a path as a visionary force in the industry.

Ayham Hassan

Ayobami Ajetomobi

BA Fashion Design Print, Central Saint Martins

Benjamin Savizon

MA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Cléa Henry-Gabriel-Calixte

MA Fashion Design, Central Saint Martins

Ayham Hassan

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Palestinian fashion design student Ayham Hassan explores in his work a critical and analytical lens into his upbringing in Palestine. He aims to transform and re-design his reality by challenging it through fashion, concentrating on exploring conceptual research inspired by social life customs in his city and exploring craftsmanship in Palestine by challenging it through movement and storytelling reflecting tailorship, textiles, and draping while working closely with artisans in the local industry. A raw, primal, visceral, and earthy aesthetic reflects how he grew up under Israeli military occupation, which made him realize that fashion is so much more than just a dress or form of expression. It is a sensual, painful, and violent means of protection, sometimes from society but always from military occupation. He believes design to be a source of power and improvement and a means of manifesting a better world. His work disrupts the fabric of constructed life and encourages people to confront concerns in Arab and Palestinian communities.

Ayobami Ajetomobi

BA Fashion Design Print, Central Saint Martins

BAMI is a British Nigerian designer whose work focuses on her engagement with fantasy, her family and her upbringing as both a British citizen and young black woman. She often explores superstitious symbolism and Nigerian folklore. She is inspired by the kitsch items she collects and her endless hobbies outside of fashion. It's the colours and textures of the world she lives in, the communities she belongs to and the beauty of the people she encounters that feed directly into her work. Prior to her starting a Bachelors in Fashion Design Print at Central Saint Martins, she attended the CSM Foundation in Art and Design.

Benjamin Savizon

MA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Ben is a British fashion designer of Caribbean heritage. His work focuses on queer ideology, class dynamics and technology. Ben graduated with a BA in Fashion at the Manchester Fashion Institute and is currently undertaking his MA at Central Saint Martins. He was born and raised in Manchester (A Northerner) in one of Britain's largest council estates - inspiring him to research deeper into wealth inequality, mental health and systems of power. Ben pulls inspiration from his network of Queer friends and chosen family. Surrounded by alternative expressions of gender and sexuality has inspired him to investigate the purpose of masculine presentation in the context of queer culture. Ben has completed internships for Sampaix Studio and Mowalola. Ben also has freelance experience as a digital garment designer utilising software such as Clo3D and Blender - this has become an integral tool for his design process. How our digital and physical worlds interact in the medium of fashion will be explored further during his MA.

Cléa Henry-Gabriel-Calixte

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Within my work I utilise my Black British heritage as a form of agency, exploring the shared experience of the Black community in London, as a form of self expression and connection to my culture. In relating the past to the present, my work aims to encapsulate the essence of what it is to live the experience of the Black British community, shedding light on, expressing and celebrating the ever present culture that’s cultivated within London. With a strong focus on perfecting the craft of hair as textile, symbolism becomes important within the depth of my body of work. Hair, having a rich history within Blackness, harnesses the communication of the narratives I explore; I aim to continue investigating the breadth of this materiality. Moving forward I aspire to further introduce my background as a contemporary dancer, through the art of fashion film, stimulating an experience for my work to lie within.

Frankie Staples

George Zverko

MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Geraint Brian Lewis

James Rowland

BA Fashion Design, Glasgow School of Art

Frankie Staples

MA Fashion Design, Central Saint Martins

Of British Cypriot heritage, Frankie Staples' creative practice is centred around sculpturing and distorting form and silhouette, particularly in the realm of menswear. Their work boldly challenges traditional norms, pushing boundaries with a fearless approach to unconventional materials. A distinct sense of organic form, derived from juxtaposition, is intricately woven into every creation, reflecting a profound understanding of the interplay between nature and design. Moreover, the body is the canvas for their designs, representation is a cornerstone of their work, as it permeates every facet of their designs, resulting in pieces that resonate on a deeply personal level.Beyond their artistic pursuits, Frankie holds a profound reverence for craftsmanship and the dedicated artisans who bring their visions to life. They recognise that the work of these skilled individuals is not merely a product, but rather an embodiment of deep sentiment and passion. This appreciation, deeply rooted in their British Cypriot heritage, infuses every project with a profound sense of soul and purpose, elevating their creations beyond mere aesthetics

George Zverko

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

My creative practice reflects an integrated approach to fashion, combining community, sustainability, and my Finno-Ugric upbringing. Influenced by my mother’s coastal roots and my father’s Hungarian background, I commit to modern menswear by blending traditional techniques with digital craftsmanship while addressing the environmental impact of extreme sports. I balance technical expertise with a focus on functionality and eco-conscious practices, exploring connections between urban life and nature through scientific study. My collections bring these elements together and draw inspiration from my personal interests in motor racing and alpine sports. Recognizing the need for change, I launched ZVERKO, a brand promoting environmentally conscious approaches in commercial sports. My goal is to inspire athletes and enthusiasts with eco-friendly strategies while developing safety innovations in wearable garments. Unique equipment, uniforms, and branded sponsorships inform my designs, especially in prints and product ranges. I also draw inspiration from diverse professions, such as land surveyors and volcanologists, as well as the life cycles of insects in biodomes, blending technical precision with natural inspiration.

Geraint Brian Lewis

MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

I am Geraint Brian Lewis, a creative practitioner from Fleur-de-Lys, a small town in the South Wales valleys. Growing up in this unique landscape has deeply influenced my creative approach, and I’m passionate about weaving the rich identity of Wales into my work. I graduated in 2016 with a BA in Fashion Design from the University of South Wales, where I developed a solid foundation in menswear, with a particular focus on tailoring and draping techniques. This background continues to shape my work today. Currently, I’m pursuing an MA in Fashion Design Technology (Womenswear) at the London College of Fashion, where I’m expanding my creative horizons. My work delves into how human behaviour and trauma influence the creative process, and I use fashion as a medium to explore these complex emotional landscapes. I find fashion to be a powerful tool for storytelling and self-expression, and I aim to push boundaries by integrating both personal and cultural narratives into my designs.

James Rowland

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

James likes to create structural garments that transcend gendered boundaries. He has just completed his first year at Uni of Westminster where he enjoyed adapting traditional forms of pattern cutting to create garments that possess novel and sculptural shapes as well as strength and wearability.

Kyra Ho

Luke Saul

BA Fashion Design with Knitwear, Central Saint Martins

Megan Otaka Akua Alloh

Molly Jacqueline Putner

BA Fashion, Kingston School of Art

Kyra Ho

BA Fashion Design, Glasgow School of Art

Growing up in a small Scottish town as a young Chinese girl, I found it difficult to accept who I was. I struggled with coming to terms with my identity as there was a huge cultural difference between myself and my peers. With that being said, within my studio practice, I thoroughly explore, shape, and articulate my cultural identity, and my designs are closely linked to my cross-cultural differences. I explore my Hong Kong heritage, drawing inspiration from the silhouettes of the symbolic objects from my upbringing and I incorporate traditional handcrafted knotting techniques within my designs. In my ‘BIFORM’ collection, I celebrate the cross between my Scottish nationality and my Chinese heritage. In doing so, I integrate remade Scottish tartan textiles with garment details from historic Chinese dress. I exhibit what Scotland means to me by focusing on technical garments engineered for the great landscapes of the Scottish outdoors. This journey that I have taken through the exploration and celebration of tradition has deepened my relationship with my identity, allowing me to weave my conceptual ideologies into my work.

Luke Saul

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Growing up in Newcastle formed me into a resourceful, intuitive and imaginative artist with a drive to simply do more. I often had a powerful sense of feeling like there is more to life outside my bubble and felt that I must break the cycle of the mundane and traditional norms that encompassed me. However, I am inspired by the beauty of normality and interested in expressing my interpretations of normal people and normal things because that is the reality that has always surrounded me. I struggle to accept the way that the industry works, and don’t believe it has to stay this way. It is important to represent the everyday people of the world and unfortunately, the working class aren’t represented at all in the fashion industry. I want the creatives that I grew up with to be seen. My research revolves around the experiences I’ve had, whether that is from sitting in the stands with 50,000 other Newcastle fans at the football, or my life living with chronic illness, or general experiences growing up in a working class area. As an artist, I provide an outlook onto the world that isn’t yet represented in the fashion world.

Megan Otaka Akua Alloh

BA Fashion Design with Knitwear, Central Saint Martins

Megan Alloh’s work revolves around exploring British culture through the eyes of a first-generation Ghanaian immigrant. By examining the dynamic culture that exists within her identity, Megan delves into the unease and otherness that resides within it. Each project serves as a response to various questions which she has had since her childhood; at times focusing on her upbringing, and other times addressing her identity. Despite being a fashion knitwear student, Megan creates work without a specific figure in mind. Rather, she experiments with materials such as clay, Modroc, and silicone. By doing this, she creates wearable artwork. Storytelling is a key part of her creative practice, regularly addressing sensitive topics, whilst presenting her work in a way which makes it digestible for a wider audience. Issues not only within the fashion industry, but those present in society we live in.

Molly Jacqueline Putner

BA Fashion, Kingston School of Art

I was born and raised in a small village in the south of England where there weren't many resources surrounding the arts. I was inspired to create from the women in my family, whom I was named after. My aunt, Jacqueline Duffin, who was a talented artist and was taken too soon from the world. I use my middle name and my mother’s maiden name to promote my work and to bring my aunt's name into the industry. Throughout my educational journey in fashion I also studied Fine Art up until my foundation year. This allowed me to develop a more explorative and imaginative approach to design. I took a great interest in the production of sustainable materials where I melted recycled plastics down and also grew fabric from organisms. Since starting my BA I have focused my interests into creating structurally adaptive clothing which is still strongly based around sustainability, through its interchangeable nature. I am looking forward to exploring these concepts further and linking it back to my past interest in textile development.

Oli Clarke

Renée-Shanel Edwards

Reuben George Harris

Roy Carmona

BA Fashion Design with Business Studies, University of Brighton

Oli Clarke

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

A previous graduate of the BA Fashion Design with Marketing course at Central St Martins in 2022. In the two years since graduating, Oli Clarke has worked on the design team for womenswear runway at Burberry for the first collection under Daniel Lee, followed by the RTW design team at Phoebe Philo, also during the release of her first collection. Prior to working in fashion, he worked in costume on large scale film productions for both Marvel and Disney at Pinewood Studios. His work Is interested in re-contextualising commodities of past cultures through techniques of Bricolage. Bringing together historical costume and artefacts, as well as a large personal collection of found objects and materials, to create poetic narratives. Subverting these historical references and reinterpreting them in a modern framework to engage in new conversation, drawing parallels between past and contemporary society. Currently alongside the Masters course at Central St Martins, he works at Spitalfields market in London, a strong source of inspiration and context to his work, through the objects he collects as artefacts of inspiration and the relationships he has with others visiting and working at the market.

Renée-Shanel Edwards

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

Renée-Shanel Edwards is a first generation British-Jamaican designer, who is influenced by their lived experience growing up in North West London. Renée’s Final Year BA collection ‘Closure’, explores Postmodernist theory in the context of ‘Blackness’. “There is no one way to be Black, but Black identities post trauma have caused a resurgence of ‘safe’ and familiar style codes that connect past experiences to how we present today.” They focus on cut and texture to explore the nuances of Black masculinity and to highlight the beauty of their Caribbean experience. Renée-Shanel is also 1 of the 4 recipients of the 2024 BFC X Net-A-Porter X Mr Porter Vanguard prize.

Reuben George Harris

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

Habitually visiting India as a child I observed the stark contrast between my hometown Sunderland and Mumbai. The differences in culture, customs and clothes allowed me to garner a greater understanding of myself and the world around me - which is reflected throughout my practice. Currently, my work is an amalgamation of heritage, history and queer identity, as well as lots of student resourcefulness. However, as I learn more about myself, my craft and as my interests grow my work will also evolve.

Roy Carmona

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Immigrating from the Philippines to the UK, I grew up with two different cultures which harmonised into one. The forefront of my work is to bring elegance within my Asian-British diaspora and how being working class has shaped the way I look at clothing. Being queer and non-binary has also influenced how I look at masculinity while studying Menswear. it has allowed me to disrupt the meanings of gender and how I can break down the colonial, binary constructions of traditional clothing. All these themes merge into my identity, which plays a massive role in how I design. I want to tell my story and experiences through my work and create capsules of my history with the clothes I make. Inspired by things like pre-colonial futurism, my Christian upbringing and my queerness, I enjoy documenting my thought process while exploring these themes and being able to deconstruct the way I look at them. I dream of freedom and fluidity through my queer Filipino identity and being able to create a community with my work.

Sabrina Nieddu

Taya Francis

MA Fashion Knitwear, Nottingham Trent University

Timisola Shasanya

William Palmer

Sabrina Nieddu

BA Fashion Design with Business Studies, University of Brighton

I grew up in my mother's tailoring shop in a small town in Sardinia, where she taught me to sew, first by hand and then with a machine. She showed me how to recognise different materials and, most importantly, to respect clothing. Since childhood, I dreamt of following in her footsteps, but financial constraints kept me from studying fashion. After a few years at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, I left for England, hoping to pursue fashion someday. After ten years of hard work, the University of Brighton offered me a place on the fashion course. Over the years, I've reflected on my roots and what kind of designer I aspire to become. My artistic language finds expression through second-hand and waste materials, exploring the deep connection between the wearer and their clothes. Since my first year, I've questioned how garments can absorb fragments of the wearer's life, capturing moments forever in their fibres and seams. For my final project, I delved into this concept further, using materials to explore women's heritage and the stories passed down through generations. I imagine an invisible thread that runs through time and connects all women through an intergenerational transmission of memories

Taya Francis

MA Fashion Knitwear, Nottingham Trent University

Taya Francis is a knitwear designer and all-around creative mind based in Nottingham, UK. She is the founder of Knit & Ting, a bespoke knitwear project born as a way to explore her Jamaican heritage while creating high-quality pieces with an emphasis on craftsmanship and artisanal manufacturing. Born and raised in Nottingham, Taya moved to London in 2014 to study Fashion Textile Design at Middlesex University where she specialised in Knitwear. While there, she learned the ropes of yarn manipulation under Katie Jones at her eponymous brand and Tomoko Yamanaka of Cabinet. With a special focus on sustainability and slow production, Taya’s experience extends far beyond knitting. Over the course of the past five years, she has flexed her creative muscles developing custom projects for Clarks Originals, curating a Boiler Room event in her native city and collaborating with Wales Bonner on a jumper for their AW22 ‘Togetherness’ collection. Her brand Knit & Ting has appeared on various international publications such as Highsnobiety and Sicky Magazine.

Timisola Shasanya

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

The premise of my work surrounds itself around textiles and cutting techniques that intersect the principles of bespoke menswear and fluidity of traditional Nigerian textile techniques. I have a way of working with material through spiritual and traditional practice, particularly with dyeing processes, and experimenting with unorthodox materials which inevitably allows me to experiment with distortion and wearability. Furthermore, I use my sensitivity to research and ability to source material as a way to collate knowledge within the wider world into a single garment. I tend to produce work under a process of techniques and aim to consistently challenge myself within each project.

William Palmer

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

Growing up in the UK within a working-class family, my background has deeply shaped my approach to both life and my work. Immersed in lad culture, I’ve always been inspired by its tongue-in-cheek, humorous attitude, which I instinctively incorporate into my creative expression. This playful, often cheeky, outlook allows me to challenge traditional themes around masculinity and class, pushing boundaries in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. My work aims to redefine masculinity, exploring how it can be more sensitive and playful while still retaining its essence. Ultimately, I seek to break stereotypes and create a more nuanced vision of the modern man.

Yodea Marquel Williams

BA Fashion Design with Marketing, Central Saint Martins

Zahra Al-Najjar

Yodea Marquel Williams

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

Yodea's distinctive journey is deeply rooted in Caribbean ancestral practices. They use art as a medium to delve into personal experiences. Their Jamaican heritage and inner-city London upbringing form a vital foundation for their creative practice, enriching their work with depth and authenticity and making their creations resonate with unique cultural significance. Having recently graduated from Central Saint Martins's BA Menswear program, Yodea gained invaluable experience working on the 2024 Artisanal Collection at Maison Margiela under John Galliano. Immediately following this, they showcased their collection, closing the Central Saint Martins BA Fashion 2024 press show—with the support of the British Fashion Council and Lee Alexander McQueen Sarabande Scholarships, which enabled Yodea to complete their degree while focusing on their creative vision. Now embarking on the MA Fashion course at Central Saint Martins, Yodea's practice is marked by a distinctive approach that deeply intertwines craftsmanship and spiritual exploration. Their work harmoniously blends traditional techniques with innovative methods, utilising native plant dyes and animistic influences. By repurposing found objects and reusing materials, Yodea infuses sustainability into their creations, adding depth and meaning. Rooted in their heritage and shaped by London's dynamic environment, Yodea's designs profoundly reflect their unique identity and purpose.

Zahra Al-Najjar

BA Fashion Design with Marketing, Central Saint Martins

I am an Iraqi-Canadian designer, based and raised in the UK. My design aesthetic is influenced by nostalgia and self expression. I enjoy exploring with shape and silhouette taking you to a whimsical fantasy world. I am inspired by Middle Eastern pop music, as well as historical garments from museum archives. I apply my culture into my work whenever possible and a version of myself as a hijabi Muslim women when creating.

Aaron Adkins

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Manchester Fashion Institute

Abdula Ahmad

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Aaron Adkins

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Manchester Fashion Institute

Abdula Ahmad

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Aliyah Dankwah

Arielle Uno-Ekwang

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Aliyah Dankwah

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

Arielle Uno-Ekwang

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

Ayham Hassan

Ayobami Ajetomobi

BA Fashion Design Print, Central Saint Martins

Ayham Hassan

BA Fashion Design Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Ayobami Ajetomobi

BA Fashion Design Print, Central Saint Martins

Benjamin Savizon

MA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Cléa Henry-Gabriel-Calixte

MA Fashion Design, Central Saint Martins

Benjamin Savizon

MA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Cléa Henry-Gabriel-Calixte

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Frankie Staples

George Zverko

MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

Frankie Staples

MA Fashion Design, Central Saint Martins

George Zverko

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

Geraint Brian Lewis

James Rowland

BA Fashion Design, Glasgow School of Art

Geraint Brian Lewis

MA Fashion Design Technology Womenswear, Central Saint Martins

James Rowland

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

Kyra Ho

Luke Saul

BA Fashion Design with Knitwear, Central Saint Martins

Kyra Ho

BA Fashion Design, Glasgow School of Art

Luke Saul

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Megan Otaka Akua Alloh

Molly Jacqueline Putner

BA Fashion, Kingston School of Art

Megan Otaka Akua Alloh

BA Fashion Design with Knitwear, Central Saint Martins

Molly Jacqueline Putner

BA Fashion, Kingston School of Art

Oli Clarke

Renée-Shanel Edwards

Oli Clarke

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

Renée-Shanel Edwards

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

Reuben George Harris

Roy Carmona

BA Fashion Design with Business Studies, University of Brighton

Reuben George Harris

BA Fashion Design, University of Westminster

Roy Carmona

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

Sabrina Nieddu

Taya Francis

MA Fashion Knitwear, Nottingham Trent University

Sabrina Nieddu

BA Fashion Design with Business Studies, University of Brighton

Taya Francis

MA Fashion Knitwear, Nottingham Trent University

Timisola Shasanya

William Palmer

Timisola Shasanya

BA Fashion Design Menswear, Central Saint Martins

William Palmer

MA Fashion, Central Saint Martins

Yodea Marquel Williams