A STUDENT from Bere Regis will be joining the likes of Chanel, Gucci and Valentino at this year's London Fashion Week.

Emily Witham, 21, a third year fashion design student at Middlesex University, will showcase her ‘Tourist’ collection in Covent Garden during London Fashion Week after impressing judges in the prestigious Fashion Awareness Direct (FAD) competition.

FAD is a creative charity supporting young people to bridge the gap between education and the fashion industry.

The shortlisted finalists of their annual competition get to show off their designs on the runway during the week’s Fashion Scout event between February 18 and 23.

Emily's creations will feature on the catwalk alongside collections from 16 other finalists in front of an invited audience of press and industry professionals as they compete for £1,000 and a career-making industry placement.

“I am very excited to be involved in the finals of the Fashion Awareness Direct showcase to have my work recognised in a national competition is a huge complement," said Emily.

"I feel incredibly fortunate, especially as an undergraduate, to be given the opportunity of having my designs featured on a runway at London Fashion Week."

The inspiration for her 'Tourist' collection came from her experience working in Carnaby Street in central London last year.

"During this time I conversed with a lot of visiting tourists and became interested in observing their behaviour, clothing and spending rituals.

"I also became fascinated by their interpretation of my everyday surroundings and how their perception of London was very different to that of my own or other native Londoners.

“Often I found they were looking to purchase trinkets to take back home as a reminder of their visit.

"I began thinking about this as a broader concept and realised how ironic it is that all over the world often the only reminder visitors have of the significant location they visited on their trip is often a cheap re-appropriated plastic keepsake.

“This is the notion I have explored when designing my garments.”

Emily is one of a succession of Middlesex University fashion students picked for the FAD finals.

Past finalists have gone on to work for the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Hussein Chalayan, Burberry, Aquascutum, Jean Paul Gaultier, Coast and All Saints.

Their work will be judged by a panel of industry experts, who will select one overall winner and two runners-up.