Kimberly conditions has got a real passion for fashion (From The Bolton News)

Kimberly conditions has got a real passion for fashion

9:05am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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A BOLTON fashion designer is hoping to follow in the footsteps of John Galliano and Stella McCartney when one of her outfits is showcased at London Fashion Week.

Kimberly Boton, from Farnworth, is one of just 24 finalists selected to take part in Fashion Awareness Direct’s catwalk show at Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s venue in Covent Garden on September 20.

The 18-year-old beat off competition from more than 100 other entrants to be included in the show.

She said: “I’m really excited about it, but I’m quite nervous as well — there’s only a couple of weeks to go so the pressure really is on.

“I never thought I would get through. When I looked at the outfits from last year, they seemed so professional, so to be accepted is amazing.”

Despite her self-doubt when first told about the competition in January, Kimberly was put through by her tutor, Louisa Barei, at Salford City College, where she is currently studying for a BTEC in art, specialising in fashion design.

She travelled to the Victoria and Albert Museumin London, where she started research for the show’s medieval and Renaissance theme. There, she came up with the idea for a chiffon top, worn over a pull-up jumpsuit, inspired by Pre-Raphaelite images with a twist.

“Initially, I did a lot of research on medieval and Pre-Raphaelite sleeves,” she said. “But so it didn’t look too retro, I took the idea I had for a sleeve and put it in the body.

“I didn’t want to be too literal with my interpretation.”

She says the current designers who influence her include Valentino, Vera Wang and Eli Saab.

Kimberley said: “The way they work, and the way they have built themselves up is a huge inspiration to me.”

Fashion Awareness Direct gives young people the chance to get a foot on the fashion industry ladder by offering training and awards.

Kimberly said: “For people like me who want to go further into education, and this is something they really want to do, it gives them a chance to move on to the next level, instead of working hard and not moving anywhere.

“These organisations help students and give them an opportunity to get themselves out there and learn a lot from the fashion industry.”