Boots has put the ‘uni’ in uniform! As part of its plans to transform the face of high street beauty, Boots challenged Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) second year BA (Hons) Fashion Design students to design a new future-focused working wardrobe for its colleagues.
Working in collaboration with corporate workwear supplier, Dimensions, the competition gave students a rigorous and challenging set of design criteria. Not only did they need to create a culturally-sensitive concept for both males and females that would suit a broad range of ages and sizes, but the designs also needed to be future-facing yet mindful of Boots’ heritage, hard-wearing, practical, sustainable and cost-effective.
After the initial brief was given by Lavinia Moxley, Senior Manager, Global Advisor Talent & Education, Boots, in late 2018, 25 students rolled up their sleeves and spent several weeks gathering market research, designing concepts and mood boards, developing fabric samples and print ideas, and visualising a final line up six garments.
Amanda Briggs-Goode, Head of Department for Fashion, Textiles and Knitwear Design, NTU, said: “On behalf of NTU, I’d like to thank the team at Boots for giving our students the chance to be part of this exciting challenge, and to work on this future-focused project with such an established, global company of great local significance. I’m very proud of the work our students have produced; I think they have achieved the aim of designing a uniform to blend your heritage with the exciting plans for your future.”
Following a detailed assessment of all the designs, Boots selected five finalists to present their inspiring concepts to a number of Boots colleagues, including Nathan Clements, HR Director, Boots UK and ROI, and Kevin Alavoine, Store Operations Director, at a special awards ceremony held at its Support Office in Nottingham.
After lots of deliberation, Agnes Abelson was crowned the competition’s winner, receiving a prize of £600. Second place was awarded to Natalie Sit (£300); third place was given to Ciara Pontin (£100), and joint fourth place went to Emmy Eves and Kimberly Maskell (£50).
Nathan Clements, HR Director, Boots, said “We have been truly impressed by the standard of work shown to us today. The time and effort you have obviously put into this is amazing and it has been a really difficult decision to pick an overall winner.”
“Each of you answered the brief with such individuality and innovation, while still focusing on Boots’ key values, legacy, and 170 year heritage. There are elements of each design that we really like and in fact, we would like to consider taking features of each forward into the final designs for our uniforms of the future.”
As well as championing Boots’ learning and development partnership with Nottingham Trent University, the exclusive uniform competition celebrated Boots inspiring 170 year heritage and paid a fitting tribute to the 175-year anniversary recently celebrated by NTU.
Pictured left to right – Emmy Eves (student – joint 4th place), Ciara Pontin (student – 3rd place), Claire Dumughn (Design Director, Dimensions), Agnes Abelson (student – 1st place), Lavinia Moxley (Global Advisor Talent & Education, Boots), Kimberley Maskell (student – joint 4th place), Fiona Cranston (Senior Account Manager, Dimensions), Natalie Sit (student – 2nd place)