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 By Andrea McVeigh.
Tyrone-born, Belfast-based Kerry Brogan has big designs on the fashion world - and we think she's got what it takes to make it.
The 23-year-old's work really stood out at the University of Ulster's Textile and Fashion Design students' end-of-year fashion show earlier this summer, causing The Sugahfix Gals to sit up and pay attention.
Her catwalk work involved her designing the patterns and, in many cases, hand-printing them herself, before making the fabric up into garments for the models to wear (pictured left).
"My focus is on design, pattern-wise, and my inspiration for the show came from jewellery and ropes as I was interested in creating a lot of different textures."
Kerry's obvious talent secured her a summer placement with London textile and design studio Keeler Gordon, after she graduated with a 2:1 in Fashion Textile Design.
But the big smoke's loss is our gain, as Kerry's back in Belfast for a year-long residency at the UU's York Street campus.
"It's an artist/designer residency, which means I get to use the facilities and also I'll be teaching two days a week too," explains Kerry.
Finding ideas everywhere, and in everyday things, Kerry is always on the lookout for inspiration. "I carry my camera everywhere, so I can take photographs of the things I like and that inspire me, and I keep up to date with fashion and design trends on websites such as www.wgsn.com."
 Her current colour palette focuses on monochromes, with splashes of contrasting colour, such a dramatic purple, but really, as she points out, she works with "all colours. I'm looking at neutral tones at the minute too, so I'll see how they go."
Summer also saw her display some of her interior design creations in Belfast home and gift shop Still, for August craft month. And right now, she's working with a digital technician at the University of Ulster to create samples to send off to Paris for the autumn/winter 2011-2012 season.
So, as she admits herself: "there's a lot going on. The samples feature a lot of textural ideas, and I've been working with metallics, as well as different types of shiny and matt surfaces."
As for the future, as well as having her sights set on the Parisian fashion and textile houses, Kerry is looking at the bigger picture outside the province, hoping to make inroads with a big company in London or else by setting up on her own.
So snap up her work now, while you still have the chance.
Kerry plans to take a stall at the St. George's Christmas market and sell her hand-printed scarves and handbags, made with her own print and textile designs.
We'll be there - not least so we can boast about owning a few designer-label Kerry Brogan goodies before the A-list get in on the act.
Pictured above: Kerry Brogan's textile designs on the catwalk at University of Ulster end of year fashion show. Photography by Jessica Weber.
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