Never without with a sketchbook in hand to capture any inspiration in day to day life, Emma graduated from (BA) Hons Fashion Studies and flew across the other side of the world, interning for Australian fashion designer, Kirrily Johnston. With a love for Art and design and a passion for fashion, she climbed her way up as a fashion assistant and then to a business manager within the fashion marketing company, JHFM. However success doesn’t stop there for Emma as she dreams of her designs to be available on the high street, spurring on her motivation to become a successful designer.

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to showcase. I am ecstatic and very much looking forward to being involved with this year’s Midlands Fashion Designer Awards”

Nottingham Trent University graduate Rosie Legg has been selected to showcase her collection at this year’s Midlands Fashion Designer Awards.  Rosie graduated in 2009 with 1^st Class BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Design and progressed onto the MA Fashion Design receiving the Paul Smith Scholarship to study in Tokyo for two months. She graduated from Masters course with distinction in 2010.  Rosie takes inspiration her travels and her surroundings. Through her recent travels Rosie has explored and created a signature hybrid design philosophy, combining Japanese ideas and inspirations such as origami folding techniques with bold digital prints.  Folds and prints are significant features in her work, creating a distinctive clashing aesthetic.  As a designer Rosie likes to push traditional and modern elements to create garments with unique sophistication with original ‘chic’.

Rosie has undertaken work placement roles at Paul Smith, Burton and Freda womenswear. Rosie is currently working as a freelance print designer and looking to launch her career in womenswear design.

Shropshire based, ready to wear designer Charmaine Bould explained to the organiser of the Midlands Fashion Designer awards that her“interest in fashion is that it is a form of expression, a way to be a ‘walking piece of art”.  She loves to experiment with new techniques and ideas and to be able to put them to a practical use.  Inspired by Ice Cream, her Spring/Summer collection is named ‘Sweet’. Noting on the nature of ice cream, particularly how it melts and the colours run together lead her towards using soft layers and a marbling technique. Sugar sprinkles and pretties inspired the fringing and beading, layered on top of the melted ice cream.  Her collection consists layered fringed tops, hand marbled layered ruffled, embellished with bead and embroidered details.

Jade Hope’s passion for lingerie design grew while studying contour and fashion design at De Montfort University. Jade feels her strongest points are within designing, pattern cutting and creating lingerie.  Jade takes her inspiration from observing the structure of underwear,  manipulating and changing it to create different styles and shapes to create dramatic looks to make a statement.  “Seeing my completed collections really motivates me to want to complete more ranges and to keep developing my skills”. Her plan for the future is to develop her underwear collection into a successful brand selling to boutiques and leading stores.

Ryan has always had an interest in fashion from a young age and most significantly remembering when he used to assist his mother in the wearing of her sari. With a passion for both fashion and illustration and especially when the two marry together.

His interests in fashion are varied, enjoying designs from all eras but also regularly researches the latest collections with personal favouries including Alexander McQueen and Thierrey Hugler. With an interest for shapes, structure and how the garments move on the body. Ryan describes his personal style as elegance with a hint of attitude.