AIU London Fashion Students Intern At Fyn Leer Project Designing Jackets Sold To Raise Funds for Pakistan Orphans

LONDON (October 27th, 2010) Two American InterContinental University (AIU) London fashion students in the study abroad programme begin internships on the Fyn Leer Project - the newly established clothing brand partnered with Awaiting Eyes Foundation, the UK-based child welfare charity supporting children orphaned by the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan.  

LaTerry Aaron from Northwood University in Northwood, Michigan and Shynita Browning from the International Academy for Design and Technology in Detroit, Michigan are attending AIU London on the study abroad programme for one term from October to December. The two students have taken the opportunity with The Fyn Leer project to help produce fashionable and modern leather jackets to be sold online as a means of raising funds. The AIU London study abroad students are assisting in the design of clothing and also reviewing sketches from other designers for approval two days a week during the term time.

Leather for the jackets is sourced from Pakistan, which is famous for its high quality leather. The jackets are also produced in Pakistan, and this provides stable employment for the local community. At the moment the Fyn Leer is only producing leather jackets, but the autumn/winter 2011 collection will contain other leather based clothes.

The money raised will be put toward completing the architectural designs for the Iqbal Begum Complex that will provide long term relief for orphans and families affected by the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

AIU London aims to place students with internships from fashion designers to worthwhile causes such as this.  Gill Stark, AIU London dean of fashion says: “Our students on the Fyn Leer Project will gain hands on experience in fashion and at the same time help raise money for such a great cause.”

Ahmed Ali from the Fyn Leer Project says: “The Fyn Leer brand is aimed at vibrant individuals who have an enthusiasm for fashion. We work in tandem with creative fashion interns who are constantly aware of the ongoing trends that our consumers seek. Our core value is to create a brand that will put a smile for our consumers’ and the orphans who we are looking to help as a result of this exciting project.”

Founded in 1970, the AIU London fashion faculty provides real-world programmes that equip its international students with industry-current knowledge and a solid foundation as they build and advance their careers in many of today's most competitive fields.  

Internship students and graduates work in many areas of the fashion industry, from design and production retail management, buying, visual merchandising, merchandising and fashion show production to fashion styling, and trend forecasting, public relations and fashion journalism.

AIU London offers a wide range of associate, bachelor's and master’s degrees in fashion, visual communications, interior design and business.

For more information, please visit http://www.aiulondon.ac.uk/

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About Awaiting Eyes Foundation

Awaiting Eyes Foundation is a UK based registered (Charity No. 1117222) child welfare charity working with orphans in Pakistan. Our UK office is entirely run by volunteers, and so all the money we generate can go directly to the children we sponser. We believe that every child deserves a happy childhood and should have a future with prospects. No child should be forgotten.

The charity was founded by Estaq Malik in response to the earthquake that devastated the Bagh region of Pakistan on October 8th 2005. We are currently supporting 90 orphans with food, clothing and education. The Awaiting Eyes Foundation aims to provide long term support for these orphans by building a complex containing a school, hospital, orphanage, religious buildings and other amenities.

The Awaiting Eyes Foundation is currently working in two villages that were close to the epicenter of the earthquake; Mahildara and Bani Minhasan. Whilst there was an initial flood of aid into Pakistan for earthquake relief, most of this was focused in the city of Muzaffarabad and very little reached the North-East mountain area which was the epicenter of the earthquake. The area around Mahildara and Bani Minhasan was devastated by the earthquake.