Portuguese footwear association APICCAPS enters second year of London College of Fashion partnership

The Portuguese Footwear, Components, Leather Goods and Alternatives Association (APICCAPS) has extended its strategic partnership with London College of Fashion (LCF) into a second consecutive year. Embedded directly within LCF's BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear curriculum, the recurring initiative connects design students directly with Portuguese footwear manufacturers to develop market-ready, sustainable footwear concepts.

Throughout the multi-stage project, LCF students work alongside technical experts, component suppliers, and regional footwear manufacturers in Portugal to turn conceptual designs into working prototypes. The program incorporates specialized industry workshops—featuring established designers such as Bianca Saunders—and places a heavy operational focus on material traceability, waste reduction, and circular manufacturing methods aligned with Portugal's national Bioshoes4all sustainability framework.

For academic institutions, recurring industrial partnerships of this scale bridge the gap between speculative design education and supply-chain realities. By granting students direct access to commercial manufacturing infrastructure and technical expertise, the program enhances institutional curriculum relevance and equips graduates with essential knowledge in sustainable design, product development, and global trade operations.