Nafisa Tosh, who has also worked with numerous star-studded celebrities such as Harry Styles, Lana Del Rey and Daniel Craig, has called for industry change that will enable more working-class students to pursue fashion and textiles as a long-term career.

She recently worked on the MTV Awards in Manchester tailoring pop-princess, Rita Ora’s extravagant red-carpet gowns.

(Image: Ian West/ PA)

And she has lectured at the University of Bolton teaching fashion and textiles to a new generation of young designers.

The 55-year-old grew up in Daubhill, and was raised by her parents and her father worked as a tailor when he arrived in the UK in the 1960s.

(Image: Nafisa Tosh) She said: “We were one of just five or six Asian Muslim families in the area. We experienced so much xenophobia and racism because of that, our homes” target=”_blank”>house was on a corner and offensive slurs were always scrawled on the outer wall.

“My parents were confused when I told them I wanted to study fashion at college, it wasn’t a stereotypical profession for someone like me at the time.”

(Image: Alex Tosh)  Nafisa went on to study at Great Moor Street Art College before moving to London as a young adult to pursue agency work before she landed a role working under the British fashion designer, Elizabeth Emanuel, who created Princess Diana’s iconic wedding gown in 1981.

She said:

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“What was meant to be a couple of days at Elizabeth Emanuel’s turned into around a year, everyone was really lovely, and they were happy to have a protégée to pass their skills to.”

During her time at Emanuel’s, Nafisa was able to make vital industry connections with top designers such as multi-award-winning landmark designer, Alexander McQueen, who was heralded as a working-class hero by the fashion world.

She added: “I continued with agency work but felt like I’d gone up a notch. My mobile wouldn’t stop ringing.”

(Image: Nafisa Tosh) Whilst navigating her newfound industry success, Nafisa regularly visited her parents back in Bolton, who were both thrilled their daughter’s achievements.

She recalls her mother passing around magazines with her work to neighbours as the “ultimate seal of approval.”

In 2022, Nafisa contacted Bolton University asking whether her expertise in the industry could be useful in teaching fashion students and was accepted almost immediately as a member of staff. 

(Image: Nafisa Tosh)

Nafisa said: “The industry needs so many different skill sets, there’s demand for pattern cutters, machine workers and this gap in the skills market hasn’t gone away.

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“Fashion is expensive, even studying it at college, students must buy their own materials and kit. It’s not as accessible for working class kids as it once was.

“It’s partly the industry that needs to make this accessible by offering well-paid apprenticeships and a good living wage, there isn’t much industry support.”

(Image: Nafisa Tosh) The textiles and surface design programme leader at the University of Bolton, Donna Claypool, who co-ordinates the undergraduate fashion and textiles programmes said: “We support and encourage students from a range of backgrounds to achieve on our courses, gaining the skills required for a wide range of careers within the creative industries.

“Through our BA (Hons) fashion top-up course, students from a range of backgrounds explore pattern cutting, garment manufacture, fashion illustration and visualisation techniques, and the application of surface design and embellishment by creating a portfolio and sample garments to impress future employers.

“One of our students, Elena Faccioli’s collection ‘Quantum Disorder’ explored notions of quantum physics, and as a sustainable focused collection, her goal was to use natural materials free of plastics.  

(Image: Elena Faccioli) “Elena also gained recognition for being chosen for the  UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT)  ‘Made It’ Competition 2024, winning a paid internship with Cookson Clegg.

(Image: Elena Faccioli)

“Another recent graduate student on the BA (Hons) Commercial Surface Design course, Rukhsar Shabir Rhiaz who was recently awarded second prize in a major international wallcoverings competition ‘Inspiring Designers of Today for Tomorrow’.

(Image: Donna Claypool) “It was inspirational for our students to enjoy a masterclass with Nafisa who worked with them on their projects.”

Nafisa said: “If I could advise students who want to get into the industry, I would tell them to view each job as a stepping stone, gradually build up your skillset and don’t expect to achieve success straight away – even though it’s difficult.

“My agency days taught me so much about working in the industry. It might not be your dream role, but the experience you gain will outweigh that in the long-term.

“Even skills you might not necessarily think are relevant, they certainly are, such as making people feel comfortable and reading body language. If someone doesn’t feel comfortable in what they’re wearing, they might not say, it’s up to me to put it right.

“Look for opportunities, there’s opportunities everywhere. It doesn’t have to be just in London. The more skills you have under your belt, the more employable you are.

“After all, it’s the grit that makes the pearl.”

Got a story? Email me at Leah.collins@newsquest.co.uk