Skip to content
Anna Mancilla

Anna
Mancilla

Peru
The resources at NTU are incredible, and you will find yourself in a rich, international environment. The course is very challenging, but also very rewarding.

More about Anna

What made you choose to study at NTU?
“The city was vibrant, and I fell in love with the art and design building and how the course was structured.”

What did you enjoy most about your course?
“Definitely the environment and resources. NTU has a great mix of cultures and it was fascinating to see different cultural point of views. That really made a difference.”

Did the course include any live projects or briefs?
“Yes, we had plenty of briefs that helped us to develop a new fashion sense. One of my favourites was the colour project where we explored colour senses and different textile techniques. It really made me realise what my style was about, and to find out more about it.”

Did the course include any industry competitions?
“Yes, one of the competitions was in collaboration with Bolongaro Trevor. We had to design a menswear collection based on the style of the company. My group won, so we got the opportunity to intern with them that summer and learn more about a truly British company.”

What did you think about the course staff?
“The staff are the best of the best. As an international student, it had a huge impact on how I developed during the course. At the beginning, I had some problems with the language and I was a bit slow. The type of education I received in Peru did not include fashion techniques, but the staff really helped me through the process. They helped me by answering all my questions and giving me extra tutorials. It definitely made a difference to how comfortable I felt during the course.”

What did you think about the art and design facilities available to you?
“It was like a playground. There was everything a student could wish for! I got to experiment with so many techniques and develop my creative work.”

As an international student, what did you like about studying and living in Nottingham?
“Nottingham is such a vibrant place to live in. It is not too big and not too small, the perfect size to not get lost. There was always something to do and I had an incredible time during my student years.”

In a nutshell, why would you recommend your course / NTU to someone looking to study BA (Hons) Fashion Design?
“Because it is a leading course in the UK. The resources at NTU are incredible, you will find yourself in a rich, international environment. The course is very challenging, but also very rewarding.”

How has your career developed since leaving NTU?
“I had the opportunity to represent NTU at London's Graduate Fashion Week during its 25th anniversary. That really helped my career. I worked in London for a while for Gabriel Vielma, and then I started my own fashion design journey.”

What does your current job involve?
“I run my family textiles factory in Peru, where I work with various boutiques and retailers to develop their knitwear design collections. I also volunteer at a male prison in Lima and some communities in the highlands of Peru, to develop new products in collaboration, so they can create a profitable business.”

How did NTU help you get to where you are today?
“The daily pressure and challenges of the course really helped me push myself more. It makes you more dedicated to put your work first. I think that was the best lesson NTU gave me, as I am not afraid of how big any challenge can be now.”

Anna also made her mark at the 2017 Lima Fashion (LIF) Week, where she was announced first runner-up at the 13th edition of the Young Creators to the World contest.

Still need help?

+44 (0)115 941 8418
Related student profiles
  • Profile icon

    STUDENT PROFILE

    Abi Emmerson

    Fashion Management

    United Kingdom

    https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/courses/our-students-stories/art-design/abi-emmerson

  • Profile icon

    STUDENT PROFILE

    Abigail Coop

    Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

    United Kingdom

    https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/courses/our-students-stories/art-design/abigail-coop

  • Profile icon

    STUDENT PROFILE

    Adam Wolstenholme

    BA (Hons) Product Design

    United Kingdom

    https://www.ntu.ac.uk/study-and-courses/courses/our-students-stories/architecture-design-built-environment/adam-wolstenholme