BSLT fashion hits the catwalk

University College Northampton (UCN) fashion degree students furthered their international reputation when they exhibited a collection in Barcelona recently and brought home a prize. Students and their tutors attended Pielespana in the Catalan capital. UCN was one of just two British institutions exhibiting at the show (the other being London College of Fashion) and the catwalk collection consisted of ten leather outfits designed by second year students. The student's work was judged at the show and Katherine Pare from UCN won the runner's up prize for her tailored outfit in plum and camel coloured leather. UCN already has a very strong reputation within the international leather industry since the British School of Leather Technology (BSLT), Britain's only centre for education and training in leather technology, is part of UCN. Gay Ironmonger, from UCN's fashion department, said: 'We do great deal of work with leather - it makes sense as we have a superb supply of quality material from the BSLT and their sponsors and clients. It's a brilliant and challenging material to work with and allows real flexibility for our footwear, accessories and fashion and textiles students.' Leather for the collections was supplied by International Leathers, Northern Ireland, Muhammed Shafi, Pakistan, Borge Garveri, Norway, and Church's, England. For more information on fashion at UCN or BSLT telephone 0800 3582232.