Burberry x London College of Fashion, UAL: ’Reimagining Materials’ Competition returns for a Second Year in Celebration of Young Creative Talent

This year’s competition invited students to respond to a real industry brief  to reimagine  Burberry’s iconic trench and car coats in celebration of  the brand’s  170th anniversary. Building on the success of last year’s competition, students were challenged to transform iconic Burberry silhouettes into original products.

Incorporating circularity through design, 20 shortlisted students received a Burberry Heritage Trench Coat or Car Coat and surplus materials to develop their prototypes. Throughout the competition, students learned about Burberry’s heritage and house codes, took part in review sessions and presented their designs to Burberry’s Product, Design and Merchandising teams to support the development of their creations. 

Following a prototype development session, 10 finalists were chosen to showcase their designs at Burberry’s headquarter in an evening exhibition that welcomed students, families and industry guests. The final judging panel included Burberry’s CEO Joshua Schulman, Chief Marketing Officer Jonathan Kiman, Chief Product Merchandising and Planning Officer Paul Price, and guest judge Erin O’Connor. The judges selected the winning design from 10 finalists based on originality, creativity and craft.

“We were incredibly impressed by the quality and ambition of the designs presented. The finalists demonstrated a deep understanding of our heritage and an exciting ability to reinterpret the trench through a circular lens.’

Helen Davis 

Burberry Vice President Product  Strategy and competition sponsor

The finalists shared the inspirations behind their silhouettes, their approach to construction and the ways they reimagined surplus materials through an upcycling-led lens.

’Our Reimagining Material competition celebrates the imagination, creativity, and technical skill of young talent today. By reimagining our most iconic silhouette, the Burberry Trench Coat, each student brought a fresh perspective to circular design and a real appreciation for craft. Their work reflects the exceptional talent emerging across London and the UK, and we’re proud to support the next generation shaping the future of our industry.’

Joshua Schulman

Burberry, Chief Executive Officer

Notes to Editors

About London College of Fashion: Shaping Lives Through Fashion

London College of Fashion, UAL, leads the world in fashion business, media and design education. We’ve been nurturing creative talent for over a century, offering courses in all things fashion. With our philosophy of open and inclusive education, we encourage students to examine the past and question the present. To develop inventive, assertive ideas that challenge social and political agendas. And we give them the skills, opportunities – and above all, the freedom – to put those ideas into practice. From our new home at East Bank, the UK’s newest cultural quarter at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, we’re forging partnerships, opening up opportunities, and creating connections with east London’s schools, community and industry. Our new home has brought all of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, from all of our three schools, under one roof for the very first time. In doing so, we’ll continue to pioneer how we use fashion business, media and design to shape culture, economics, and society. And through fashion, shape lives.