Jonny Langridge – The inspiration, creation and progress of Ourchive

The course has allowed me to identify areas of the industry where I excel, but equally given me an understanding of the collaborative nature of fashion and where I may be able to lean into my cohort for skills that I’m not so confident with. This is the joy of being in a creative field.

In your final year, the course becomes more tailored to finding your creative identity and place in the industry, which is incredibly important finding your place post-graduation.

During my third and final year at university, I developed a research project investigating the impact of digitalisation and AI technology in the fashion industry. Archival practice was a running theme throughout my research – I unlocked a new world. I discovered that this was a standard practice for institutions such as museums, galleries and fashion houses. For a long time, I felt personally attached to my own physical collections, with boxes saved from my childhood and teenage years. As the year progressed, I naturally began building on my own love for archival practice, which evolved into a tangible product.

Through months of experimentation, research and a brilliant week-long placement in The Guardian Foundation’s News and Media Archive, I realised I was building on something unique and culturally relevant. The knowledge I gained from the course allowed me to understand how to then develop a tangible product from this, cultivating skills such as digital marketing and brand communication.

Ourchive was established in early 2026 – an archival platform I created to help consumers build physical and digital structure to their personal collections and memorabilia. It started when I found my grandparents’ stamp collection after they passed. There was no system, no structure, just scattered stories or memorable stories from family members. Ourchive proposes to catalogue, store and share special family photographs, memories and keepsakes, so they’re never lost. It is private by design, shaping a more community-focused platform by integrating legacy features and inherited access for future generations.

I’m currently building the concept and validating the business model off the back of winning the AUB Innovation Award. AUB offers a 12-week programme in their Innovation Studio where students like myself get the opportunity to pitch their idea to a panel of judges and receive feedback. Winning this award alongside three other graduates gave me credibility and three months of funded development, which is exactly what an early-ventures concept needs.

I never saw myself as an entrepreneur. However, over the past few years at university, I have learned that if you're open to new experiences, willing to collaborate, and prepared to exhaust every contact in your network, hard work is enough to get a real idea off the ground no matter where you come from.

Over the past few years, I have slowly realised how crucial it is to collaborate with your cohort and course mates. I found that through course facilitated conversations, peer insights and encouragement from those around me on the course, I started to see my confidence grow. I’m incredibly grateful to those I have worked alongside from Level 4 right the way through to Level 6, particularly when I got to work with students from other courses.

During Level 6, I brought in two incredibly talented Level 4 students, Maria Eduarda Duboc and Will Giles, whose photography ended up shaping my website content. What started as a simple request turned into a selection of some beautiful portfolio images. Their enthusiasm to collaborate and get involved in helping other students is exactly what will help you succeed.

My one bit of advice to those starting at AUB, if I could do it all again, would be: don't be afraid to voice your opinion, make yourself known, and collaborate more, because what you bring to the table is just as valuable as what the person next to you brings.