We wish to celebrate the outstanding success of former Loreto College student Samuel, who has secured a place on a Master’s degree at the world-renowned Royal College of Art (RCA), alongside the highly competitive Eranda Rothschild Scholarship.
Samuel, who studied A Levels in Fashion and Textiles, Graphic Communication, and Media Studies at Loreto before leaving in 2023, has spent the last three years studying for a BA in Graphic Media Design at the University of the Arts London (UAL). He recently contacted the College to share the exciting news and to reflect on the role his time at Loreto played in shaping his creative journey.
The scholarship will cover Samuel’s tuition fees and provide support for his living costs, enabling him to continue developing his practice at one of the world’s most prestigious art and design institutions.
Before receiving his master’s offer, Samuel completed his undergraduate degree and exhibited his final major project at the UAL Graduate Show. His work attracted significant attention from visitors, particularly an innovative business card made from scrap metal, reflecting his commitment to creative reuse and sustainable design.
What makes Samuel’s success especially inspiring is the way he has built a distinctive design practice around sustainability and making. Throughout his degree, he continued to draw upon the material experimentation and craft skills he developed while studying Fashion and Textiles at Loreto.
Reflecting on his application journey, Samuel explained that he included examples of his A Level Textiles work in his portfolio, helping him demonstrate a strong understanding of materials and making processes. The garments he created from recycled materials while at Loreto proved unexpectedly influential, opening doors to opportunities that continued throughout his university career.
Alongside his studies, Samuel gained an impressive range of industry experience. During his first year at university, he worked as a Pattern Cutter and Design Intern at fashion label Joshua Samuels. He was later selected as one of only four finalists from more than 300 applicants for a Product Design Internship with the innovative New York-based collective MSCHF, before the programme was unfortunately postponed. More recently, he joined menswear brand SIRPLUS, where he worked on their marketing team.
Many of these opportunities, Samuel says, can be traced back to the work he produced during his A Level studies. His portfolio of sustainable textiles projects helped him secure internships with fashion and design organisations and reinforced his passion for environmentally conscious design and craft.
In his message to the College, Samuel expressed his gratitude for the support he received from Loreto’s Art and Design Department, writing:
“I wouldn’t be at this point on my journey if it wasn’t for the support of the Art and Design Department at Loreto.”
He added:
“So much has happened ever since I left Loreto, all because of the jacket and shoes I made out of recycled materials when I was 17!”
Samuel’s achievements are a wonderful example of how creativity, curiosity and dedication can lead to remarkable opportunities. His journey from creating sustainable fashion pieces in the Loreto studios to earning a place at the Royal College of Art demonstrates the lasting impact of creative education and the value of developing practical making skills alongside innovative thinking.
Everyone at Loreto College is incredibly proud of Samuel and all that he has achieved so far. We congratulate him on gaining his place at the Royal College of Art, receiving the Eranda Rothschild Scholarship, and building such an exciting career path in design. We look forward to following the next stage of his journey and seeing where his talent and ambition take him next.