23 October 2022

VCUarts Qatar Fashion Students Design for Sport: David Beckham visits to learn more

Beckham was interested to see the innovative designs, including some that integrated nanotechnology and Vitamin D capture into the design, and to learn more about the students’ design process

VCUarts Qatar’s Fashion Design students are getting into the spirit of FIFA World Cup 2022 by creating exciting new apparel designs that are inspired by sport and movement within Qatar’s cultural context.

According to Fashion Design department Chair, Christopher Fink, “Our students are responding to the current excitement of the upcoming FiFA World Cup 2022 games and have designed a collection of sports inspired clothing unique to the culture and fashion of the region in celebration of the World Cup.”

As part of the celebration of sports attire and the World Cup countdown, the campus hosted former England captain and World Cup ambassador David Beckham to campus Sunday, October 2 to listen in on the students’ presentations on their sports-inspired creations. Beckham was interested to see the innovative designs, including some that integrated nanotechnology and Vitamin D capture into the design, and to learn more about the students’ design process.

The designs considered not only the creativity and celebration of the World Cup theme, but also functionality for freedom of movement, ease of wear, and appropriateness for light to moderate exercise.  

“Using their own personal creative vision, each fashion design student has transformed traditional clothing into a unique expression of celebration and movement for the World Cup hosted by Qatar,” said Fink.

Of the 14 designs presented, seven designs were selected to be made into prototypes and showcased during and after the World Cup as part of a larger initiative to design and develop apparel to encourage more women and girls’ to be physically active.