Footwear student wins a scholarship from Cheaney Shoes

University of Northampton student, Laura Pickering, has won a scholarship from Northamptonshire-based shoe makers, Joseph Cheaney & Sons.

Seven second year BA (Hons) Footwear students were asked to research, design and develop a capsule collection of at least eight original Goodyear Welted footwear designs, which gave them a real opportunity to be innovative in their creations. As part of the research process the students were invited to visit Cheaney’s factory in Desborough to see first-hand how Goodyear Welted footwear is manufactured, which is a process originated within Northamptonshire. Jonathan Church from Cheaney’s visited the University’s Avenue Campus and judged the students’ designs before declaring Laura the winner of the Leslie Church Scholarship Fund.

Caroline Southernwood, Senior Lecturer in Footwear at the University of Northampton commented: “We are truly delighted to have the continued support from the prestigious Northamptonshire footwear brand Joseph Cheaney and Sons, this vital industrial support gives our footwear students a real insight into commercial manufacture and design also the importance of working to a tight brief.”