Kelly-Ann Garforth studied fashion at Batley School of Art and Design before studying at De Montfort University graduating with a BA (Hons) in Fashion and Contour design. After graduating, she was selected by a Lingerie buyer to showcase her swimwear collection at the graduate catwalk at the international Harrogate Lingerie and Swimwear show. She also showed at the Savoy, London for the J Summer Fashion Show in June and secured further stockists in the UK, Europe, US and Australia.Counting Oscar De La Renta as one of her favourite designers, he is well known for his iconic design and elegance. These key attributes are reflected in Kelly-Ann’s philosophy is based upon her love for classical forms. In her search for contemporary elegance, she aims to create a truly individual style with a mixture of colours, fabrics, textures and silhouettes, often bringing together contrasting materials or elements.

The main idea behind her collection is a trans-seasonal timelessness and a glamorous day-to-night approach, envisioned to form an essential part of every woman’s wardrobe.Klue by Kelly-Ann AW11-12 collection starts from the theme of metamorphosis the transformation from a cocoon to a butterfly. Each outfit connotes the transformation of a chrysalis to a butterfly, and the collection is rife with dramatic origami folds and gathering, pleated shaped into fans and spirals. Klue by Kelly-Ann also toys with opacity and translucency to suggest skin vs. motion, cocoons vs. butterfly wings. 

These themes reflect her inspiration which are the crossing of ready to wear and evening wear with the aims of creating collection that encapsulates catwalk creativity but is also accessible.

Kelly-Ann said “The Midlands Fashion Designer Awards 2011 will be a brilliant opportunity for me to showcase my collection as my close friend, Nicole Gill showcased last year and told me about the amazing response she received”. 

Learning to sew and knit from a young age, Tanya Kornijenko is a keen observer of life and takes most of her inspiration from everyday life. She believes that the clothes are secondary to the person and creates designs that encourage a woman to feel confident and beautiful about themselves.

 Tanya creates designs for women of all sizes with a signature style that is fitted and structured to the body and combines a mix of materials. With key elements of her designs being modern, pure and elegant but not conventional, she creates dresses for women who require dresses for special occasions. They are for the woman who does not want to blend in with the crowd, but to stand out in stunning ‘Luna’ style.

With a love for innovative designs, Hina Parmar creates garments that are unique but without the designer price tag. Hina’s vision for fashion design is to create what is unavailable on the high street and takes particular pleasure in designing bespoke garments for clients.

After learning valuable skills at university, Hina’s graduate collection was a success and extremely well received. Not afraid of a challenge, she has taken on projects such as designing bridesmaids a dress which has enabled more confidence and more determination to progress as an independent designer. With such projects added to her portfolio, she hopes that this will increase her exposure as a designer.

She admires designers such as Jill Sander and Raf Simons for their pattern cutting and fabric choices. However she also looks to innovative designers such as Rei Kawakubo and Hussein Chalayan who push boundaries with their creative approaches to design. With such designers as inspiration, she is motivated to achieve the goal of creating innovative garments that are also wearable.

Hina has already garnered some interest for her current collection and hopes to be able to sell her designs to boutiques and eventually, create her own label. Showing at this year’s Midlands Fashion Designer award, Hina hopes that the opportunity will create a platform for her as a designer and bring her dream of being stocked in boutiques closer as well as raise her profile as a bespoke fashion designer.

Courtney Gilbert has fashion running through her veins and likens her love of fashion to a composer and his music. After achieving exceptionally high marks in her GCSE textiles, she continued studying fashion and is currently studying a HND Fashion course at City College Coventry.

 A fan of British designers, Vivienne Westwood and the late Alexander McQueen she holds them both in high esteem and considers them fashion visionaries. With interests in global fashion, history and traditional wear, her designs consist of layered, military styled jackets created from distressed denim. Parachute dresses, tight fitted dresses and classic denim jackets.

Speaking to the organisers of the Midlands Fashion Designer awards Courtney said ”I am Patriot’ My collection is all about how to be patriotic and stylish at the same time and with Great Britain hosting the 2012 Olympics what better time to show your patriotic side and support your nation. Make a statement and show you are proud of your nation”. 

With hopes of working in the fashion industry, she dreams of owning her own business as well as working for a top fashion brand as a designer.

Serena believes fashion is a way of life, not just a necessity.  The up and coming designer said “I express myself with the clothes I choose to wear, I also believe that fashion is a way to show your personality, enhancing yourself by being an individual and showing the world who you are through what you wear”. Currently in her final year of a BA (Hons) fashion degree at Wolverhampton University, Serena takes her inspirations from designers, Viktor and Rolf who she believes are always pushing the boundaries of fashion. Serena’s collection is inspired by bright colours which are fused with funky prints. This quirky girly look would not look out of place at festivals such as Glastonbury and V Festival. All outfits could be teamed up with sandals or wellington boots for the true festival style. Serena will be showcasing her collection at the Midlands Fashion Designers Awards 2011.