The UDA achieves the first three places in the "Bootcamp" workshop

Between April 23 and 25, the third edition of the intensive virtual workshop for the development of footwear collections "Bootcamp" was held, organized by the Pichincha Shoe Chamber. In the event, the University of Azuay took the first three places.

The first was obtained by Silvia Narváez, a professor at the Faculty of Design of the Textile and Clothing Design career. Second place went to the team made up of Belén Cordero, Texlab designer, and teacher María Elisa Guillen. The third was awarded to Priscila Cabrera, a sixth-cycle student of the degree.

With a daily duration of 10 hours, the workshop was attended by 22 participants nationwide, including students, professionals and entrepreneurs. In addition, several relevant companies in the field of footwear such as Bunkie, Mil Polímeros and Litargmode.

The objective of the course was the analysis of trends, for this we worked together with Felipe Fiallo, who served as a facilitator at the event, since he is a world leader in footwear design in important designer firms.

The format consisted of live instructions on Zoom and high quality prerecorded videos.

Fiallo divided the contest into three parts: conceptual (definition of the consumer profile), creative (trends and use of materials) and final presentation. In addition, a multidisciplinary jury that had to finally decide whether or not to bet on a project.

The final project consisted of the development of a collection where all the shared knowledge converged, including the analysis and profile of the consumer, brand development and strategies for marketing and innovation.

“The participation of the students is very important, because they are very close to the real work of a professional in the design area as in the 'Bootcamp'. They also have direct contact with the productive field because they are in relationship with entrepreneurs and with people from the market and the industrial sector, ”said María Isabel Pinos, in charge of Texlab.

One of the essential factors for this achievement is the aforementioned Texlab. A laboratory belonging to the Faculty of Design of the University of Azuay that is made up of two areas: footwear and leather, and that of textiles and clothing. Currently, the laboratory has three fundamental axes: the academy, the market or productive environment and research.

In this place the students accompanied by those in charge of these areas develop their projects and their practical classes. The latter are based on the handling of machinery and processes to create a final product.

“The purpose of the laboratory is for students to have a closer approach to the production process. Apart from the fact that the processes here are real with real clients, we hope to be able to refer the students to our buyers ”, commented María Isabel Pinos.

Finally, Belén Cordero narrated that her project was based on a totally sustainable product with ecological materials such as “bio-leather”, combining the aesthetic part and the trends in terms of materials.

Young women were defined as the public, creating footwear that fits into whatever clothing they wear with the aim of reducing the number of shoes that these consumers wear during the day.

UDA Correspondent