Meet the people behind Nottingham Fashion Week
It has the big-name brands, a retro vintage quarter and alleys lined with independent boutiques – so it's time Nottingham celebrates everything it has on offer for fashion.
The city's fashion week will kick off this month from Friday, April 22, to Saturday, April 30 – with various events and performances popping up across the city.
From style master classes to catwalk shows to flash mobs, the week-long event will be dedicated to showcasing talent in and around the city.
Already gearing up for the start of the action are four industry professionals who will be working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to make sure everything goes to plan.
Blake Models Agency was launched in 2010 with the Nottingham business providing models for both national and local campaigns.
Founder Adam Blake first started his personal modelling career in 2003 – highlights of his career were at London Fashion Week and at Clothes Show Live in Birmingham.
Adam, who has lived in Nottingham his whole life, said his long-term goal for the company was to become a firm part of fashion in the city.
The agency will be selecting a handful of their models to walk the catwalk and represent the city at the fashion week event this month.
He added: "We now represent close to 100 models.
"We are ever evolving, and our long-term goal is to keep pushing things further, becoming a part of the fabric of Nottingham.
"I am very passionate about Nottingham as I have lived here all of my life and feel that it has so much to offer.
"Nottingham Fashion Week is such a positive event for the city – I am very much looking forward it and feel very privileged to be part of it."
Fashion expert Kimmy will be taking to the runway at the Nottingham Contemporary, on Saturday, April 30, for the day of style presentations.
From vintage wares to body shape classes, a range of demonstrations will unfold at the gallery.
There will also be an optical fashion show, looking at shapes and styles of glasses available in Nottingham and what suits which face shape.
Kimmy works full-time as a style and image consultant with both brands and clients.
As well as helping personal clients build their style wardrobes through shopping in Nottingham, she has worked with the likes of Jigsaw, Joules and Surfdome in styling fashion campaigns and photo shoots.
She said: " I have the personal experience with clients on a one-to-one and this can then help when I'm working with brands, as I know how they are perceived by customers.
"I'm so excited for the Nottingham event. Ever since the annual 48 Hours of Fashion event in Nottingham I've wanted to get involved.
"Nottingham is my favourite place to shop. It has an amazing range with all of the independents and brands."