UCIRE has been known for promoting up-and-coming talent in its six-plus years of publication, but Alice Coral at Central St Martin’s in London is the first we’ve closely worked with in helping her realize her final-year collection.
   Alice will graduate from Central St Martin’s in May—just as Stella McCartney and John Galliano had in years before. It’s not an easy place to get in to: a year ago, Francesca Versace—daughter of Santo—was turned down.

The clues she offered already intrigue us: ‘Strong women film icons, oriental forms and shapes, organic lines, autumn colours and strong women depicted in cartoons’

   So it’s a cinch that the collection will be something special. We will give you glimpses from time to time so you can have the scoop on Alice’s collection. And we’ll follow her right to graduation.
   Alice isn’t just another student. Born in Santa Catarina, Brazil, she graduated with a law degree from UFSC in 1996, after which she moved to London.
   Since she began the four-year course at Central St Martin’s in 2000, she has won or ranked highly in several competitions. ‘During the first year, I was selected on the Sunglasses Competition for the Vision Express–Pudsey Bear Children in Need charity auction, in which one of my designs was put to auction by the above sponsor,’ she said.
   That was just a start: the following year, she was a finalist in the Vespa fashion competition and won the L’Oréal competition, a group project for all fashion pathways.
   Her second-year final project was inspired by 1700s military uniforms and Japanese prints, resulting in a collection called ‘The New British Japonisme’. This collection featured ‘tailored jackets with a Japanese print lining,’ recalled Alice.
   ‘The photo shoot was done in the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, a place that is allegedly haunted. The main outfit consisted of a jacket, skirt and spats. For the marketing product I created the concept of packing garments in [a desirable, ornate] hat box with the same print as the jacket's lining.’
   She worked with Spencer Hart in Savile Row, La Perla in London and Montana in Paris for her third placement year.
   This final year commenced in October 2003. Alice seeks to create a very personal collection inspired by fantasy and glamour. The clues she offered already intrigue us: ‘Strong women film icons, oriental forms and shapes, organic lines, autumn colours and strong women depicted in cartoons.’
   Watch this space, or write your thoughts at the StyleTalk Forum. •

LEFT, FROM TOP: The award-winning L’Oréal Professionnel-sponsored competition group entry. An item from ‘The New British Japonisme’ collection in 2001. Marketing and draft images from ‘The New British Japonisme’ including a luxurious hat box featuring the lining’s print.