Wallpaper pattern inspired fabric lands designer a dream job. Dawn Collinson reports

SEEING your creation on the rails of a high street giant is something even most time-served designers can only dream about.

But, for Sophie Maddocks, it’s very much a reality – right there, at the front of Liverpool’s New Look store.

Sophie landed the coveted retail slot after being chosen from thousands as The Clothes Show Young Textile Designer of the Year.

And now her win has helped her secure her first job in the fashion industry, working with big names including Dorothy Perkins, Evans, M&S and major supermarkets.

By any standards, it’s been an incredible couple of months for the 22-year-old, who only graduated from University of Central Lancashire this spring.

It began, explains Sophie, last September, when she was in her third year at UCLA studying for a BA Hons in fashion design.

“I heard about a competition which New Look and Drapers Record magazine were launching with the Clothes Show to encourage young designers,” she says. “But I knew there would be entries from all over the UK, there were 40 in my university class alone, so even when I got a phone call to say I’d been short-listed I still didn't really think anything of it.

“I assumed it was the last 10, but it was actually the final three, and I was invited to a big awards ceremony in London at the end of May.

“They told us that the winner’s design was going on sale in New Look at 12.30pm that afternoon – but didn’t tell us whose it was. When they announced my name, I was in shock.”

Sophie’s design was based on an exotic 1920s print she’d seen on a Uni trip to the Whitworth Gallery, in Manchester.

“There was an exhibition called Flights of Fancy and it was about how wallpaper design in the 20s and 30s was influenced by the Far East,” explains Sophie. “I took my inspiration from that and came up with a design showing two birds sitting on a branch surrounded by some flowers.

“It’s a really small print, so from a distance it looks like a ditsy floral print, but close up you can see the birds in detail. I chose the colours for it and illustrated how it would appear on a dress when the pattern was repeated.”

The former Formby High School girl first saw her design brought to life when she took a break from lectures to visit New Look, in Preston, at the beginning of last month.

“Then my nan phoned to say she’d been to the Liverpool store and it was right at the front of the shop as you walked in, so I went down with my sister and took some pictures of me standing by it.

“It was so exciting to see these prom dresses I’d designed actually being sold, and I have to admit I did wait around for a little while to see if people were looking at them and buying them!”

After the buzz of her win, Sophie, who still lives in Formby, says she concentrated on completing her graduate fashion week collection. She also went along for a job interview with a Manchester-based company called Jo-Y-Jo which specialises in knitwear design for the high street.

“I did my degree placement year with them, but winning the competition definitely helped me to get a full time job there,” she says. “I went for the interview before I won and they told me I was down to the last two. They said they couldn’t decide between us and they were going to set us both a project.

“I had so much to do with my finals I didn’t know if I could cope with doing that, although I’d have tried, but when I told them about the award they came back to me a couple of days later and said I’d got the job. I think the competition clinched it.

“It is an entry level assistant’s job, but I’m really lucky to get it because it’s so hard to get a first break in this business.”

While she waits to start, Sophie is concentrating on her other fashion sideline: she runs stalls at vintage fairs across the UK, selling pieces she’s picked up at car boot sales, jumble sales and on the internet.

Her ambition, she says, would be to have her own label, inspired by designers Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and French label Chloe.

In the meantime, though, she’s still enjoying having her own design hanging in her wardrobe and in thousands of other girls’.

“I was sent a copy of the dress when I won, although I haven’t worn it yet,” she smiles. “I’m going to wear it on Sunday to a baby shower, but that will be the one and only time, I think. After that, I’m just going to keep it and take it along to interviews with me. I’ll just have to hope that no-one spills anything on it before it gets packed away!”

SOPHIE’S website is sophiemaddocks.co.uk; her limited edition bird print prom dress (priced £35) is available from selected New Look stores across the country and from www.newlook.co.uk

dawn.collinson