Describe your customer in 3 words

Non-conformist, headstrong, and offbeat.

Describe your collection in 5 words

A Journey through seasons and terrains.

Who have you dressed in the public eye? – Who would you like to? – Who needs to be dressed by you?

I have mixed feelings about celebrity endorsement. My ambitions for my brand involve organic growth and not ‘hype’ as I would call it. That said I would love to see the likes of Solange and Erykah Badu in some of my clothes. They would appreciate my work for what it is, and they’d be able to pull it of too. They’re women but menswear is worn by all these days.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

Definitely graduating and getting a first. I’ve always been academic, if I wasn’t venturing into a career in Design I would be a History lecturer. It was a goal of mine to get the highest classification possible, so when I did I was proud.

What is your unique selling point?

Everything I create is designed to be produced in limited runs of 20 or less, that way you’ll rarely ever come across someone with the same jacket as you. The smaller the run, the more personal it is. Plus, I do it all myself – the design, the pattern cutting, the grading, the manufacture and packaging.

What makes your product stand out from the crowd?

It’s more than just the clothes, and they visual elements of what I create. Everything I make or design is a part of me. It’s personal. It’ not generic or mass-produced, and it isn’t designed to be popular either. Everything has a theme and a purpose, it’s an extension of my thoughts and the way I perceive things. If you’re buying into the brand, you’re buying into a part of me too. A lot of brands lack that connection.

What is your number one ambition?

To leave a legacy. To make it into the history books for something positive that I’ve achieved, whether is be through my creative work or my other hobbies and talents. There aren’t enough women that are remembered and respected in fashion, let alone those from different ethnicities.

Have you won any awards? – if so what for?

I won the Rotary Award for Design Innovation in 2010. Got a cheque for £100 as well! Beat all the other kids that made really practical things like, chairs and tables and saddles for horses – I made a corset and some jacquard trouser hahaha!

What trend is On?

Bomber Jackets! I live for bomber jackets. They look good on everyone; they come in all different fabrics and styles. The possibilities are endless.

What Trend is Off?

Socks and Slides – Don’t like it. Keep it on the gym and locker rooms, not on the runway.

Who have you learnt more from? – What did you learn?

I have learnt the most from my mother. She’s a pattern cutter, with nearly 30 years experience in the industry, worked in all levels of fashion from the top to bottom, in Womenswear. Menswear and Childrenswear. She’s a fountain of knowledge and wisdom. She’s taught me everything I know about fashion, the importance of doing things correctly, not cutting corners, and most importantly accuracy. I’ve learnt that technical skill is just as important as creative flair, and that I can be a master of all trades if I put my mind to it.

Tell us an interesting Fact that no one would know about you?

I was born with mild polydactylism, so I basically had two extra fingers. They were removed when I was a baby but apparently it means I’m going to be very wealthy.

Describe a typical day

I’m currently living the 9 to 5 life at the moment, so a typical day for me just consists of work. And long tube journeys.

What do you do in your spare time for fun?

I love a good documentary and a good book. It’s one of those things people tease me about all the time. Facts are fun for me. There’s been loads of documentaries about imperial Russia on recently, so I’ve been immersing myself in those, and War and Peace is on at the moment too.

What do you love to wear?

Trainers. Runners in particular. Air Max 90’s 95’s etc They’re just so comfortable.

Where do you shop?

Right now, Zara. It’s one of my all time favourite high street stores. If I had all the money in the world I think I would be more of a Dover Street Market girl.

Whats the most valuable experience that you can share to others?

Rejection. And being unsuccessful in general. If you’re always on top and people always react positively to you and your work there isn’t really much room for growth and improvement. You’ll continue to be great, but you might not improve. You need to be at the bottom in order to progress. Depending on the kind of person you are, it’s important to have some sort of negative feedback. It pushes you, motivates you to do better. Without it, I definitely wouldn’t have had the drive to get to where I am now, and I probably wouldn’t have had the success either.