Bridgene Graham (28) is a final year student at Belfast Metropolitan College.

Already, her individuality, attention to detail and eye for high fashion has won her numerous awards throughout the Province.
The fashion conscious student will launch her own exciting fashion brand in May.

Her brand, called 'Sui Generis', has already generated great interest within the local fashion sector, and Bridgene has secured orders from high street outlets Yellow Moon in Londonderry and Lulu Rose in Belfast.
Speaking to The Coleraine Times last week, Bridgene explained: "I would say my range is aimed at fashion conscious people who follow trends. I design and make everything myself, and every item is unique, so you could say that they are couture pieces at high street prices."

The former St Joseph's College student says has always been into fashion. "As a teenager I started playing about and making my own stuff. I come from a family of girls. There's my mum and four sisters, so there was always talk of clothes and fashion as you can imagine.
"I had no machine experience, but at 18 I got a job in Saville Row shirt factory in Coleraine, to save up some money for a holiday. I learned so much there and had so much fun."

Bridgene spent some time with Una Rodden, a well known Belfast designer, as part of a work placement at college: "Una tought me a lot about the industry and gave me confidence and lots of contacts."
Looking to the future, Bridgene added: "I hope to open up my own shop selling clothes that I have designed and made."

Bridgene's collection will also be available on line at www.sui-generis.com