‘‘My time with Alexander McQueen, one of the world’s foremost designers opened my eyes to what the fashion world is really like. It inspired me and helped me – that’s why I decided to start my own label’

Huddersfield fashion graduate Memoonah Latif is launching an ambitious project - a retail outlet stocked entirely with her own contemporary designs. It’s a risky venture for the 25-year-old, who was inspired to create her own label after spending a year working for top designer Alexander McQueen. HILARIE STELFOX reports

WHEN the doors of Meem, Huddersfield’s newest designer fashion store, open next week it will be a heady moment for 25-year-old Memoonah Latif.

“It’s a bit scary,’’ says the Huddersfield University fashion graduate, who has designed the store’s entire collection, “but very exciting.’’

The boutique, on the ground floor of the Byram Arcade, is an ambitious venture for someone so young. But she has reason to have confidence in her designs, which already sell at an exclusive outlet in the Leeds’ Victorian Quarter.

Memoonah’s clothes are, in her own words: “quite tailored, with sharp pattern cutting - contemporary and young.’’

Memoonah, who is from Dewsbury, graduated in Fashion with Marketing and Promotion from Huddersfield last year and was one of the university’s top design students.

As well as drawing on the support of her family - her parents have provided financial backing - Memoonah has teamed up with one of her former university tutors, Soreta Riley, who teaches design and illustration and is also launching a venture of her own. Soreta will be showcasing a collection of contemporary paintings and framed illustrations on the mezzanine floor of Meem.

“Memoonah was one of our best students and is extremely talented,’’ said Soreta, who also works to commission.

The shop itself has been outfitted with the help of Memoonah’s family and the dramatic murals on the walls were painted by her friend, also a fashion graduate, Michelle Chafer.

“I’ve had a lot of help from everyone. I get my creative side from my mum and she’s been great. My dad, who is a retired businessman, has helped me with the financial and business side,’’ she explained.

“Soreta has always encouraged me. She understood my design concept at university and was really positive about my ideas,’’ she added.

As if launching her own business was not challenging enough, Memoonah has plans to study advanced pattern cutting at the Central St Martins school of fashion. She also wants to take a masters course in fashion at some point in the near future.

“You have to constantly learn and improve your skills,’’ she said.

During her degree studies, Memoonah spent a year on work placement with Alexander McQueen, one of the world’s foremost designers.

“It opened my eyes to what the fashion world is really like. It inspired me and helped me – that’s why I decided to start my own label.’’

Memoonah says she spends most of her days designing and has created a collection large enough to stock her store. Once the shop is up and running - the launch is Friday, February 22 - she plans to design five or six new garments every week.

And she’s not going to stop there: “I’m also going to design a collection of bags and accessories - everything I sell will be my label. I want to be true to my vision.’’

To view more of Soreta’s work check out www.soreta-art.co.uk