A fashion designer had her “full circle moment in life” when her collection was showcased at London Fashion Week.
Melissa-Kate Newitt, originally from Birkenhead, is part of the first cohort of Fashion Entrepreneurship in Design and Brand Innovation students at the Jimmy Choo Academy in London. As part of this, she has got to meet, spend time with and receive valuable advice from the 74-year-old household name.
She told the ECHO: “Jimmy is like a friend to us now, he’s been so great in the lead-up and aftermath of the show. His advice has always been encouraging and empowering. I think just knowing he likes what I create is a great motivation, a confidence booster and really just an honour.
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“It felt like that full circle moment in life where I had dreams of showcasing at London Fashion Week back in my textiles classes in high school, it almost felt too high of a goal and like it may never happen but I kept working and ten years later it did. I cried when my garments went out on the catwalk. But I see this as just the beginning of my career as a designer.”
The former Wirral Grammar School for Girls student first got involved with the industry after studying at Rare School of Fashion, Liverpool. Here she said it was where she got her “first real experience and insight” into how the fashion world worked. Since then, Melissa-Kate has gone on to design bestsellers for the likes of PrettyLittleThing, ASOS and BooHoo.
Melissa-Kate, who now lives in London, said: “I see fashion and design as my own artwork and creative expression. It’s always had a much deeper meaning to me than just sewing something together or following trends. It’s about the symbolism and meaning behind each step of the process for me and delving into complex concepts for each collection.
“My whole design process is built off the symbolism in paganism to help empower and bring self-love and confidence to the wearer of the garments. I like to think everything in life has meaning and that sometimes we have to accept or encourage fate to allow things to happen and I keep the same mentality in my design work. I don’t stay strict on a vision I allow it to change and adapt as scenarios and situations unfold.”
However, her career hasn’t come without its challenges as Melissa-Kate had to sacrifice living in her home town in order to get her name known. This meant leaving behind her baby brother and nephews.
She said: “Sadly the fashion world outside of London just isn’t the same, there are so many incredible people and companies doing great things in the North, but for what I do I had to get myself to the place where all the other young creatives are. London is a hub of us all collaborating and working to help each other out in the industry, so it’s really great being here.
“It’s always sad because Liverpool is such a big part of my identity and growing up it really shaped who I am, including all the people around me there. I find comfort in the fact everything’s still there and every time I go back it’s never changed it’s still home.”
Despite this, the Northumbria University student said all has been worthwhile when she looks back on how far she has come in such a short space of time.
She added: “What inspires my design and making it’s honestly my passion for it. I have such a deep desire to live a happy and enriched life full of new experiences every day and being creative really fulfils that. I always say I would still be designing and making even if I had everything I needed in life.”
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