Personally chosen by John Galliano as the winner for the Fashion Fringe platform in 2010, Corrie Nielsen is one of London’s most up and coming designers. With experience working in bespoke tailoring and at Vivienne Westwood, her latest collection is inspired by her great great great grandfather from Scotland. We had a short chat with her on her future plans

1. Have you always wanted to get into the fashion industry? Can you tell us a little bit of your background?

I was born in Pensacola, Florida, then our family moved to Los Angeles, then from the age of six we moved to Portland, Oregon and I spent my formative years there. When I was eighteen I moved to Seattle, Washington and a year and a half later moved to San Francisco. In 1998 I moved to Europe where I lived in Athens and London. From there I went to Seoul, South Korea then back to the United States. In 2000, I came back to London where I was accepted into the London College of Fashion for their Art and Design course and gained a B-Tech in Art and Design. Then in 2001 I was accepted into Central Saint Martins for BA Fashion and Design. I graduated in 2004 with a First Class Distinction in Fashion Design Womenswear, one of only four in the class do be hounoured with such distinction. In 2005, I was accepted on to the Masters at Central Saint Martins design course, but I had to withdraw due to personal reasons. In 2006, I went back to the United States for eleven months and then came back to Europe, where with my partner, I moved from Italy to London a year later. It wasn’t until June of 2010 that I was personally chosen by John Galliano out of three finalists as the winner for the highly coveted Fashion Fringe platform. Prior to that I worked in bespoke tailoring and at Vivienne Westwood.

My father is a sculptor, my mother a seamstress and my sister also works in design. It was only natural that I would do something creative.

2. Has studying at Central Saint Martins helped you in the creation of your label? Do you think a fashion degree is a must to make it in the fashion industry?

Studying at Central Saint Martins allowed me to look at life as a whole rather than a part. It opened my eyes to different cultures and lifestyles. I don’t feel education is a priority for everyone and is ‘a must’, as we are all individuals. Everyone has his or her own path.

3. What are the day-to-day challenges you faced since the start of your label?

I experience challenges with all aspects of the business from managing staff to financials to marketing! As the creative director of Corrie Nielsen Ltd, my responsibility each season is producing a new collection creatively, but I’m also at the helm of a small business and the responsibilities are endless.

4. Besides being chosen by John Galliano as the winner of Fashion Fringe 2010, what are other memorable experiences you have faced since the start of your label?

Having a space on-schedule at London Fashion Week for my seasonal catwalk shows. It’s an honour and a level of showing my work that most people can only dream of.

5. Is there a celebrity that hasn’t yet worn one of your designs that you’d love to see wearing them?

I would love to see Tilda Swinton, Kate Blanchett and Grace Jones in Corrie Nielsen, and any strong-minded women that have a unique identity.

6. What do you think is a piece of clothing every woman should own?

Underwear and a Corrie Nielsen structured frock coat or structured jacket – they look amazing on anyone, and we do bespoke or made-to-measure to ensure perfect fit.

7. How do you go about coming out with new designs and what do you do when you are stumped for ideas?

I am fascinated by history and spend a lot of time researching in libraries and researching National Heritage sites. There is so much history in London. The city has layers upon layers of hidden treasures dating back hundreds of years. The British Library, which houses books that are hundreds of years old is a great source for ideas, and I like to look back at my own family heritage.

8. Do you think social media is important to your business?

Yes! This next generation speaks digital and doesn’t want to be pushed with marketing and advertising. The connected generation wants to feel like they are a part of the conversation, like they are a friend and have direct access – the relationship with the consumer and brands is so important now. Social media is the easiest way to do create this relationship. You can follow the Corrie Nielsen studio on Twitter: @CorrieNielsen

9. In the upcoming seasons, what can we expect from Corrie Nielsen?

I can’t reveal too much, but the upcoming collection for autumn/winter 2012 draws inspiration from my Scottish great, great, great grandfather John S. Burns, who emigrated from Scotland to the United States about the same time as the Revolutionary War, settling in Arkansas. I’m also pulling ideas from the concept of Scottish clans that produced unique hand-woven tartans representing a particular family name, and infusing all with a medieval English and Scottish form of dress. Expect big, bold, structured pieces with high necklines, floor-sweeping capes and a lot of pleating.

Corrie Nielsen Fall 2012 launch