Monday 09-12-2013 - 14:39

This year, Middlesex University and MDXSU are putting on a Christmas market for the first time ever. What's new on campus to make that happen? That would be Jess Hawke, a Fashion student who spotted an oportunity to do something fun and give her fellow creatives a chance to showcase their wares. We asked Jess how it all came about...

 

 

 

 

1. Whereabouts are you from and what brought you to Middlesex?

 

I'm originally from Bradford on Avon near Bath, but came to Middlesesx a year ago to study Fashion Design. I'm in my second year now and it's going really well, if a lot of hard work! I chose to study at MDX because the course has a great reputation and I wanted to live in London. 

 

2.  You're organising the Christmas Market this year - the first of its kind here on campus.  What inspired you to begin the project?

 

I worked for the SU over Welcome Week and Freshers Week and was talking to one of the girls from the SU about the kind of events that were run by them. Normally it's quite hard to get art and design students more involved with University events, so why didn't they have an event where they could showcase their work to the rest of the uni? There are graduate and end-of-term project showcases all the time, but they are mainly in the Grove building where only a small proportion of the students visit.

 

I also love the idea of German Christmas Markets so thought, why not mash the two together? A place where students, staff and the local community could buy things that were made by the students, and get into the Christmas spirit with lots of Christmasy extras...

 

3.  How did you go about making it happen?

 

I spoke to Belinda from the SU about my initial idea and she said I should speak to Zui, the events coordinator at the SU. She loved the idea and got Sophie from RAG on board as well. They've both been really great with bringing together all the ideas for the market and took the idea to the Uni, who also loved it. It all just happened from there!

 

4.  What support has been on offer to you in getting it off the ground?

 

Lots of different things! I had chats with Zui and Sophie about what I and other students wanted at the market and they helped get some of those things sorted; promotional help from the team at the SU; MDX helped source the company we are getting all the market stalls and Christmas extras from…

 

It's been amazing the amount of support and what we've managed to organise in the time we've had!

 

5.  How are students getting involved on the day?

 

We have loads of students selling things they've made, fundraising for trips on stalls and acting as Santa's Helpers at the market. We just need the rest of the students to come to the market! It'll a great day with lots of Christmas cheer, food, mulled wine, games, photo ops and more, so make sure you get to the first ever MDXmas Market this Wednesday!