Nadine McCune models a garment she has made.

NOT many fashion students can say that they have trained in Paris and London, but local Fashion Management student Nadine McCune is hoping to use her experiences at the top of the fashion world to create a successful design business when she graduates later this year.

The 22-year-old from Lisburn is currently completing her degree at the Belfast Metropolitan College, where as well as having the opportunity to travel to Paris and London, she has had some of her unique clothing designs displayed in the college's annual fashion show.

Nadine said: "One of the most enjoyable experiences of the course was the year-long placement with one of the United Kingdom's leading menswear suppliers, Douglas and Grahame in Belfast's Donegall Road.

"I found one of the most beneficial aspects of the placement was having to design a selection of children's wear accessories for their Hip brand Tripwire."

After graduation Nadine hopes to start up her own business working from home, designing and making handbags and accessories for the Northern Ireland market.

She added: "In the modern world of fashion management, there is a real emphasis on the big name design houses. However, in Northern Ireland there is a real opportunity to develop the small business, home-based market.

"That's the area I want to specialise in by setting up my own company. My course has taught me how to research the home market and I hope in the future this sector of the Northern Ireland fashion business really takes off."