WHEN Rebecca Torres took up needlework aged nine, little did she know that a fashion career beckoned and she would become widely tipped as one of Scotland’s most talented young designers and nominated for the ‘Young Designer of the Year’ at the 2012 Scottish Fashion Awards on 11th June 2012.
In 2009, Glasgow-born Rebecca, now 26, was named as one to watch as one of Scotland’s top five newly-discovered designers.
In 2011, she was selected to design for BrandAlley’s ‘Evening Black Dress’ competition and her design became their best seller that year.
Since striking out on her own five years ago, the young designer has gone from strength to strength.
Explaining how she got started, Rebecca said: “My aunt was a seamstress, and the way she dressed, as well as my mum and grandparents, was always a huge influence on me while I was growing up. I remember them saying to me ‘it’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it’.
“However, I didn’t really pay too much attention to fashion trends until I went to Cardonald College where I studied fashion design and manufacturing.
“I finished in 2005 and then went on to Caledonian University to do the fashion business course and graduated in November 2007.
“I started working on a women’s wear collection and showcasing my designs on my website and then last year quite unexpectedly I received an enquiry from a company who scouts out new designers. They asked if they could present my collection to ASOS.com.
“Of course I said yes, not knowing where this would go, and was absolutely stunned when ASOS placed a very sizable order a few weeks later.”
Rebecca immediately contacted the Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland, which helps 18-25 year-olds set up and continue in business, and they nominated Rebecca to receive start-up funding from the BT Scotland Young E-ntrepreneurs awards scheme.
During the last 12 years, BT Scotland has invested more than £500,000 in supporting young Scottish entrepreneurs seeking support from the Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland to use eCommerce to boost their start-up success.
“The advice and funding assistance I received at that crucial time not only meant was I able to facilitate the ASOS order,” said Rebecca.
“It ultimately gave me a springboard to launch my career as a fashion designer.”
After a sell-out collection on ASOS.com of 2000 dresses, The Rebecca Torres label is selling well through her website www.rebeccatorres.co.uk, alongside stockists FutureNotion.com, Wondermode.com and Lookk.com, and is part of the Design Collective shop located at 86 Dumbarton Rd in Glasgow.
Commenting on her success, James McClafferty, partnerships director at BT Scotland, said: “Rebecca is blazing a trail for new designers and her success is testimony to her undeniable talent and hard work, as well as her ability to seize golden opportunities when they arise.
“In the current tough financial climate it is so important that our young entrepreneurs have the support they need from organisations such as the Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland to exploit new opportunities.
“We are proud to be assisting Rebecca’s career aspirations through the E-ntrepreneurs scheme and continue to wish her success in the future.”
Commenting on her future plans, Rebecca said: “I would really like to launch a menswear collection but for the time being I am content to focus on my current collections, doing the best I can and enjoying the moment.”
Ends
Issued on behalf of The Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland by Jen Nash, Panache Communications tel. 07971 466 220 Email Jen@panachecommunications.co.uk.
For further information, contact the BT Scotland press office: 0800 085 0660 or Margaret Gibson or Emma Fitzpatrick of the Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland on 0141 248 4999. You can also check out the the Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland website at www.psybt.org.uk.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Rebecca Torres can be contacted on 07944197171 sales@rebeccatorres.co.uk www.rebeccatorres.co.uk
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Contact: Jen Nash
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