OWING to Covid-19 restrictions, those in higher education have struggled to secure work and internships throughout the past year.
In response to this, Maïssane Zinaï and Cécile Bousselat, BA Womenswear students at London’s globally renowned Central Saint Martins (CSM), have launched the university’s first-ever student-led alumni club for Fashion Design and Fashion Communication students.
The Club’s founders Maïssane Zinaï and Cécile Bousselat
The online network – launched with help from a BA Fashion Communication team – aims to link the university’s fashion students with its long list of illustrious alumni.
“CSM fashion has such a great reputation worldwide. Coming from France, Cécile and I expected to find at CSM the same society heritage of traditional British universities yet, we realised it doesn’t have an established alumni club,” said Zinaï.
“Our ultimate goal for the club this year and the future is to create a common place so that all these talented students around the globe can feel like they are physically part of this brilliant creative family, regardless of where they decide to establish themselves after graduation,” she adds.
Central Saint Martins Fashion Alumni Club
The members-only club will also include a Family Programme where students can speak with CSM alumni in virtual one-on-one meetings, allowing established figures to share their advice with the next generation of talent.
Membership is available to all CSM fashion alumni and students and is accessible through the platform’s Instagram.
“Life at CSM can be overwhelming. Finding help from other fellow students that went through the same struggles, not so long ago, can make things simpler,” said Bousselat. “Having this circle, this family in which friendships blossom, is part of the CSM experience helping students to grow in an environment that has your back.”
by Joshua Hendren
For more information, please email info@csmfashionalumniclub.com
Images: CSM Fashion Alumni Club Digital team and François-Xavier Lefebvre, Mariia Ershova and Nika Pashalishvilii