Women / Spotlight
THE MIDLAND’S GOT TALENT This year’s Midlands Fashion Awards once again proved that the region is a hotbed of design talent. Now in it’s seventh year, meet the rising stars whose winning creations are heading for a wardrobe near you
BEST EMERGINING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR SARAH WOODWARD
I’m planning which direction to take my label and I’m hoping to launch it next year. I’m setting up a studio in Nottingham and I’ve already had a few people contact me to ask if I’m selling the pink dress, which they saw at MFA and in the Derby Telegraph. I want people to look at my garments and think that they’d want to wear them or that they’d feel amazing wearing them. For me that’s the biggest compliment. I feel like there’s a lot missing from the high-street. The styles look so similar and it’s really hard to find anything that looks different or has any unique detailing. You could get any white shirt on the high-street, but if you add an interesting fastening or beautiful cuff detail, people wouldn’t mind paying a little more. For me, it’s the attention to detail and quality fabric that make an item special and unique.
sarahlouisewoodward.com
Make-up: Gabrielle Hunt, Best Make-up Artist of the Year Hair: Luke East at Lisa Shepherd Salon
“I didn’t always know I wanted to do fashion design, I worked my way into it. At University I did a year on placement and worked for Caliba clothing who are a high-street supplier to retailers like House of Fraser and River Island. I then went onto Jonathan Saunders and Felder Felder. My collection was inspired by the evolution of glamour, feminism and asymmetry.
It’s considered that if you want to work in fashion, you need to be in London but that’s not the case and there are other opportunities you just need to look for them. I was so surprised to be nominated for the award because so many people entered and I knew a lot of people on my University course applied for it. To win was a massive compliment and it’s always nice to know that people like what you are doing and appreciate all the hours of hard work and sewing.” Christmas 2015 | Style Birmingham | 39