AN AWARD-WINNING South Lakeland designer has set her sights on succeeding in the toughest possible market Paris, fashion capital of Europe.

Julia Geere has just returned from the French capital, where she held talks with a top department store at a meeting arranged by the British Embassy.

She met the store's artistic director who promised to pass on her details to one of his womenswear buying colleagues.

Julia held meetings with a number of stockists and now has two more boutiques interested in taking her label.

The 24-year-old from Ulverston is also hopeful of securing a place on the official schedule for Paris Fashion Week next March.

Despite the interest, however, Julia is keeping her feet firmly on the ground. She told Business Gazette: "I think all of the interest is great but I really think that everyone should remember that my talks in Paris don't change the fact that this is all currently future possibilities and nothing has been confirmed yet."

Doors were opened for Julia with help from Business Link for Cumbria, which introduced her to the British Embassy's commercial section.

Meanwhile, Julia is running out of space at her Ulverston home for her ever-growing collection of awards.

The latest in a long line of accolades came at the North West final of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition, where she was named best creative business and also won a special award as top graduate go-getter, along with prizemoney totalling £1,250.

Established in December 2001, the Julia Geere label has carried off a string of prizes the Business Design Centre tipped her second collection as the Best Cutting Edge UK business while Drapers' Record put her down as one of five niche labels to watch out for.

Last month, she was named Businesswoman of the Year at the Excellence in Cumbria Awards and was also shortlisted for the business start-up of the year.

Her work featured in a full page spread in New Woman magazine last month and one of dresses appeared in the style page of Real magazine.

She is hoping for similar exposure in a future issue of B magazine.

Julia's interest in fashion dates back to her school days, and she used to make a lot of her own clothes while in the sixth form at Ulverston Victoria High.

It was while studying for a BTEC Art foundation course at Lancaster, and later for a 1st class BA Hons degree at Winchester School of Art, that her creative flair started to really develop.

"I also feel that the work placements with various high-profile designers which I carried out in my spare time while at university really helped me to be where I am now through making contacts and seeing how the professional world really works," said Julia.

With her Autumn and Winter Collection just going into production, Julia is now busy working on designs for spring and summer next year. Details are under wraps at present, but she says she has developed a signature style flowing through each collection.

l Caroline Blair in Kendal is the only boutique in Cumbria stocking selected pieces of the Julia Geere label.

May 15, 2003 10:30