One year on from the official launch of the UAL Shanghai Alumni Association, we were delighted, to have the opportunity to return to China and celebrate with our vibrant Shanghai community. The evening was supported by China Xintiandi, a major sponsor of Shanghai Fashion Week, who added further reason to celebrate by announcing that they plan to support current UAL students through a three-year scholarship program.

130 former students joined UAL staff at China Xintiandi’s beautiful clubhouse in the heart of the city. Guests spent an enjoyable evening strengthening their creative and professional networks and reuniting with friends. London College of Fashion’s (LCF) Dean of School of Media and Communication, Calum Mackenzie, gave an update on some of UAL’s latest achievements and exciting plans for the future, while UAL Shanghai Alumni Association Vice President, Jing Wu, gave an update on the Associations activities and ways to get involved. The audience was also pleased to hear from LCF alumna Yilei Wu, Managing Director at Xinlelu.com, who told the group about how she got to where she is today.

Lead by London College of Communication alumni Oliver Pearce and Jing Wu, the UAL Shanghai Alumni Association has been established to maintain links with our graduates in and around the city and produce events and communications throughout the year to keep local alumni connected to UAL and each other. UAL is extremely grateful to Oliver, Jing and their fellow committee members, for the hard work and dedication they have shown in growing the association and establishing a community in Shanghai eager to share, collaborate and support.

Oliver Pearce, President of the UAL Shanghai Alumni Association with Caroline Archer, Interim Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations, and members of the UAL Shanghai Alumni Committee.

During the evening, Carrie Liu, General Manager of Commerce at China Xintiandi, made the announcement that China Xintiandi will generously be supporting UAL via a three-year scholarship program for students from Greater China who would like to study BA Fashion at Central Saint Martins. More information about the China Xintiandi Scholarship can be found here.

“It is a great honour for China Xintiandi to collaborate with UAL in a scholarship program. As an innovation hub for Chinese designers, we are dedicated to discovering, cultivating and supporting emerging designers to drive the development of innovative fashion design in China.” Carrie Liu, General Manager of Commerce at China Xintiandi

Joining Calum Mackenzie to greet guests were Caroline Archer (Interim Director of Development and Alumni Relations), Paul Yuille (Director of International at LCF), Ian King (Professor of Aesthetics and Management at LCF) and Rupert Waldron (International Academic Coordinator: The School of Media and Communication at LCF).

More photos from the evening can be found on our Facebook page