Former pupil Rose Whittaker has been making a name
for herself in the fashion world. Here is an article from the
Bolton News (27 May 2010) on her designs making it to Graduate
Fashion Week in London:
VERSACE, Gucci, Georgio Armani, oh ... and that powerhouse of
the fashion world, Rose Whittaker.
Never heard of her?
Well that could all change when the Bolton student's designs go
on show at a fashion spectacular at London's Earls Court.
Models will strut their stuff in Roses' creations when they
appear at Graduate Fashion Week next month.
The 21-year-old, a student at Manchester Metropolitan
University, was chosen by a panel of fashion industry experts to
send six of her creations to the prestigious event.
Rose, who studied for a textiles A Level at Bolton School before
going to university, has designed a collection influenced by the
history of denim, researching jeans dating as far back as the 1800s
and taking inspiration from vintage graphics and washes. The
student, who lived in Turton before she went to university, said:
"I was really excited to be chosen. I did not expect to be picked
because my stuff is very casual - I'm hugely flattered."
Rose started designing her own outfits when she was just
four-years-old and she credits her Bolton School textile technology
teacher, Hilary McCuniskey, for helping her get off to a flying
start.
"She was fantastic - she was really supportive," Rose said. "I
took a lot of her advice to university with me, which meant I was
already a step ahead when we started."
Graduate Fashion Week has launched the careers of some of the
industry's biggest names, including John Galliano, Hussein Chalayan
and Stella McCartney. Students who have exhibited during the week
have also found themselves working at labels including Donna Karan,
Gucci and Calvin Klein.
Rose is hoping she will be able to make a name for herself at
one of the well-known denim brands, such as G-Star or Diesel, but
she admits she is feeling slightly nervous about the big event.
"We will be stood in the wings at the side. It will be
nerve-wracking sending the models out" she said. "You start
thinking something might fall off, or you imagine all sorts of
disasters. It will be good fun as well, though."