Photo: Vivian Liu @viplusan CSM BA Fashion Communication: Image and Promotion
For second-year student Kamila Rozely of Central Saint Martins, education at the prestigious institution that the likes of Galliano, McQueen have once graduated from is more than just bragging rights — it is access to resources that will allow her to flourish as a multidisciplinary artist. Men’s Folio catches up with her to learn more about her life as a student living abroad and what it takes to gain admission into the school of her dreams.
Photo: Vivian Liu @viplusan CSM BA Fashion Communication: Image and Promotion
Currently pursuing her BA (Hons) Culture, Criticism and Curation, getting into her dream school was four years in the making — from initial application to the beginning of her degree. Upon completing her IGCSEs back home in Malaysia, she spent the following year figuring out her next steps and filling out university applications. Hailing from a family that always had an interest in the arts, she envisioned a future in the field but was unsure which area to specialise in. “As the university requested additional pre-university qualifications, I enrolled at Hampstead Fine Arts College in London from 2020 to 2022, studying Fine Art, Business, English Literature, and Fashion and Textiles, where I earned an A* grade. I then reapplied to CSM with my A-Level results, but they asked me to take a foundation course instead,” she explained. This led her to take up the UAL Foundation in Fashion and Textiles at Ravensbourne University. What eventually got her into CSM was her foundation project that featured garments crafted from traditional textures, accompanied by an essay that referenced themes of post-colonialism.
So what drew her to an institution that required an extensive enrolment process? While her mother studied Graphic Design at UAL’s Chelsea College of Arts, her parents never pressured her to follow their paths. What made CSM alluring was its prestigious reputation and impressive alumni. “Even within the foundation program itself, only 3 out of 90 applicants were accepted,” she recounts. The choice of her degree was a strategic one, having realised how wide-ranging the syllabus was, allowing her to tap into her various interests. “So far, I’ve experimented with film, literature, fashion, design, curatorial practices, archiving, as well as architecture. I’m finding it engaging thus far.”
Moving to London as Kamila had just turned 17 — during the height of the pandemic in 2020, too, came with a set of challenges. Having graduated from the private schooling system meant finishing her secondary education earlier than most of her peers — who were either still completing their SPMs (the Malaysian Certificate of Education), studying locally for their pre-university course or deferring their intake altogether. “It was very lonely at first, and I felt homesick often. This resulted in travelling back home twice between 2020 and 2021, which required me to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks. It wasn’t until 2023 when more of my Malaysian friends started arriving in the U.K.,” Kamila shares. While some Malaysians tend to seek out peers from home, the lack of a large Malaysian presence at her university has encouraged her to build a diverse support group consisting of friends from different backgrounds. “Compared to the stressful times during my foundation year that had me crying while sewing every night, I feel a lot more adjusted these days — surrounded by good friends and a supportive environment.”
As a big fan of designing and sewing, one of her proudest projects includes a crinoline skirt she designed, involving techniques like appliqué, smocking, pleating and ruffles. Inspired by her childhood trips to Japan, the punk-meets-Lolita-style skirt reflected elements of Tokyo that were personal to her. “I incorporated references to the Tokyo Skytree and the back of the skirt features a faux chenille technique reminiscent of the Shibuya Crossing, alongside food and design elements I observed in Japan,” she shares. Her zine and short film ‘Nostalgia of a Past Life’ were part of a group exhibition at Camden Arts Centre, which allowed her to delve into ideas of home, diaspora and cultural identity through key themes of food, fashion and design. “The zine highlighted other Southeast Asian creatives, including a fellow Vietnamese student who spoke about how her heritage influenced her CSM White Show collection, while a Malaysian student at LCF got to discuss how traditional garments influenced her personal style,” Kamila elaborated.
While her ultimate goal is to practice her art back home in Malaysia, Kamila wants first to immerse herself in the creative scene in London. “It would be a missed opportunity not to tap into the network here,” she quips. Open to other cities like Tokyo and Bangkok, she notes that Southeast Asia stands as a region that is often overlooked globally in terms of its creativity. “Bangkok embraces both its rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge creativity. There are so many up-and-coming Thai creatives, and I’d love to be part of that movement!” For now, she keeps her options open. Describing herself as a multidisciplinary artist, she aspires to work in publishing, citing magazines like Yokogao, GATA or sabukaru as inspirations for highlighting underground culture that feels hyper-local and globally relevant. As someone who enjoys meeting new individuals and assisting them with their creative projects, she finds the energy at CSM perfect for connecting with other artists. Right now, she is working with jewellery design students to write interpretive text for their graduate exhibition in the Lethaby Gallery. When she’s not exploring the city, you can find her at @_kamilapotter.
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