CREATIVE and colourful creations crafted by a Wickford fashionista could soon be hitting the catwalk.

Budding fashion designer Gemma Fanning is in the running for this year’s Muuse and Vogue Talents Young Vision Award after she was head-hunted by Vogue’s online boutique, Muuse *corr*.

After sailing through the first round, the 23-year-old, of Caledonia Lane, Wickford, is now through to the voting stage of the international competition to make it into the top ten out of hundreds of hopefuls.

Representatives from the fashion bible, Vogue, will then choose the final winner.

Gemma, who went to St Bernard’s High School for Girls in Westcliff before studying women’s wear and print at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, graduated with a first class honours degree and has since been pursuing her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

Her work was spotted by the online boutique, which is run in Copenhagen, on her website and at an exhibition, and it was Muuse that suggested she entered.

“They said they really liked my work and were surprised I hadn’t gone in for it, but I hadn’t heard of it before” she said.

“I jumped at the chance, but was quite shocked to hear from them.

“It’s quite difficult to get out there in the industry, even with all my experience it’s really difficult so to get that acknowledgement was great.”

Gemma said she doesn’t want to be rich, but would love to have her own fashion label and for stars like Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence and the Machine, and songstress Lana del Ray to wear her clothes one day.

However, she hopes her designs will also appeal to “normal” women on the High Street.

She added: “I like to put so much together that it looks a mess, but when you take it apart it can be worn with other things.

“There’s a lot of texture and clashing, lots of print.”

She has completed a number of internships to build up her experience within the industry and says she is inspired by fashion house Balenciaga, and designers Michael Van Der Ham and Christopher Kane.

If she wins the contest Gemma will be awarded: - A feature in Vogue Italia Talents online complete with photo gallery, profile and interview.

- A place in the Muuse designer community and promotion as designer of the month.

- A designer profile at Muuse.com that will enable customers to buy items tailor made.

- A ready-to-wear capsule collection produced and sold by Muuse.

Visit www.gemmafanning.com and follow the link on the homepage to vote for her.

Voting closes on November 20.