Our GFC students started textile experiments at Bunka Gakuen University. Following all safety procedures to prevent the Corona virus infection, our students have started to use the university facilities for their textile experiments such as ink-jet printer, sublimation print, and silk screen.
Our GFC student Carlin Brown participated in the styling for the promotion video of Spring/Summer 2021 the North Face campaign. The video can be seen through the following link.
As costume assistant, she also participated in the styling for a music video by Kaytranada, which can be seen through the following link.
The second application session for the April 2021- March 2023 program has ended.
Applicants who are interested in applying for April 2022- March 2024, feel free to contact us through our website’s email address, or check our website for updates on the start of the next application session.
For more questions and information regarding our program, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our GFC-ENSAD double degree alumnus Adrien Testard, who is currently a print designer for Lemaire, developed some prints for their FW2020 collection. The prints were inspired by the shibori technique Adrien discovered through his study at GFC in Japan.
The Lemaire website featured a movie showing his design process and print development. You can find it through this link.
Due to COVID19, schools and universities across the globe have taken the education experience online, and the GFC course and Bunka Gakuen University are no exception to this. Since the start of the academic year in April, we have been successful in continuing our full curriculum online, with some face to face classes where possible. Going online brings certain struggles, especially for a fashion course. However, it also allows for new opportunities and roads of exploration. Amidst this situation, we asked our newest students about their experiences with the online curriculum.
Over the last six months, we have participated in online classes with the occasional face-to-face tutorial or workshop session. I was grateful to have landed in Japan before the lockdown began, and as the situation stabilizes, I have been able to enjoy my experience living abroad. During the lockdown, I adapted my working style and built a home studio to stay motivated with my design practice. I hope to access the Bunka campus facilities soon, but working from home has presented an exceptional challenge to push myself and my abilities. Despite the limitations of online classes, I am taking advantage of this time to enrich my knowledge by pursuing multiple avenues of research. Being isolated from my instructors and classmates has encouraged me to seek opportunities to work in Tokyo, and I have been able to balance these opportunities with coursework as the year progresses. With lockdown restrictions lifted, it has also been a good time to explore Tokyo and nearby cities safely and to get better acquainted with Japanese culture. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the students as they make the move to Japan and to continuing to make the most of this unprecedented learning experience.
Carlin Brown, first year student GFC
When the first semester started, the online classes were quite a struggle. Initially, it was very challenging to communicate with the professors only once a week online, especially regarding the fashion collection, showing samples and fabric manipulations in person. Moreover, due to the time difference, I had to wake up very early in the morning, which interrupted my entire work and sleep routine.
Ameena Imran, first year student of GFC
However, over time, the process got easier because the university was very organized, especially when we started individual sessions. It was still challenging because I prefer to show my work in person as it allows for a better feedback. I had a scanner at home, which made things easier to present but the lack of a proper studio and a work environment affected my efficiency and motivation levels. Despite all that, the teachers are very understanding and each student gets enough time in their one-on-one sessions, which makes the online system work-able.
