Charity Partner

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Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What's your educational background?

I am Bo, I was born in Poland but I live in UK for over 10 years now, my husband to blame for that.  I am an accountant by trade and self taught fashion designer by heart.

When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?

Not so sure really, I think it always was there in me. I love clothes, but up to about year ago I thought everybody does love them as much as I do.  It was my hubby who always was saying I should design clothes and it was him who have send me a link to Leeds Fashion Show and from the day I got accepted into the show it was no way back. I can even think of doing anything else now but designing clothes. So blame to Hubby and LFS team for making me so happy.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

Absolutely everything around me can inspire me.  Those things are just there in my head and they keep popping out.  More I design, more ideas comes to my head.  I do find myself waking up in middle of the night with this amazing idea for new dress, and once you start thinking about it then that’s it, no more sleeping for me.

What was the first article of clothing you ever designed?

Going back to my childhood days, it will be some glowing pink dress for my paper dolls...and then it will black and yellow jacket for LFS.  I knew exactly what fabric I wanted for it and it took me good few months till I realize that the yellow and black cheque simply don’t exist so I had to dye it myself.  I love this jacket and looks like people like it too.

How would you define your personal style?

I like to think that my clothes are based on Victorian shapes with twist of punk.  I love experiment with various fabrics, more unusual more chance I will buy it and try to make some clothes out of it.  I don’t follow any rules or trends, just having fun.

from needles and drink lots and lots of red bull.  But they are great moments, and I do work better under pressure, like lots of us

Name three things you can’t live without.

I am guessing things cannot be Husband?  If it can be then its him falling in all three things...but if I have to pick objects: my fashion diary, which I bought myself for Christmas, wrapped and put under tree, then pretended that Santa brought it to me. My shoes, shallow I know but now I’m fashion designer I’m allowed to say it. Can food be thing?  If so, that will be number one as I love food!

What is your favourite piece that you have designed?

It’s not easy talk about yourself you know.  I do love black and yellow, I must say, love the shape of that jacket. I love some new pieces from my special collection, the 3D skirts its awesome, but I do love all my clothes, does that sound shallow?

How do you prepare for a fashion shoot or show?

Tonnes of red bull and I’m sorted.  Shoots are great fun, I love them, especially if team is fun to work with, and they usually are (Underground- Studios:thank you).  Shows are far more stressful but can be so awarding once you walk on the runway.  I just don’t sleep before shows; I usually sew till early morning, sheid my fingers

Who are some of your favourite designers?

This is really hard question, I was just answering this to another magazine and I should really prepare myself for it.  I love Alexander McQueen but I think everybody does.  He was not just a designer but amazing artist and what he created made already history and you cannot ask for more. Vivienne is my hero too, she is from North and got ginger hair, two connection with me now I just need to become great designer like her and I can be Vivienne 2. But there are so many undiscovered designers which I meet on the shows and they are truly amazing. Carrie Ann is my inspiration lady too, she has got great personality and is such an amazing designer.

So what have you been up to these last few months?

Having so much fun!! After Leeds Fashion Show I went to America to showcase my collection at Virginia Fashion Week, met some fantastic people out there, have some lovely food, bought lots of shoes and went to Mood.  Then I was invited to go to Bangalore, which was truly amazing honour, the fashion show there is amazing and I was so excited...with booked ticket packed suitcases my visa hasn’t arrived, I was crying for about a week. Advice: if you ever want to go to India make sure you get your visa sorted well in advance.

I started working with great charity: Tree of Hope Children and do shows with them down south on regular basis, met Amazon Eve and many more celebrities while there. Started working with Fashion Pony and Underground Studio and I just came back from Malta Fashion Week, which was the most amazing show. Hanging about with Julien MacDonalds and such elite was unbelievable; I still can’t fully get over it. Meeting those great people is just the best thing ever.Most recently I have opened my shop in the Bird Yard, Kirkgate, Leeds. Its been a busy year.

What advice do you have for aspiring fashion designers?

Go for it, if you believe it you can do it go for it, but be also realistic about it.  And enjoy what you doing, it’s not point otherwise.

Have you ever Googled yourself?

Yeah, don’t you? I thought everybody does it.  Bo carter finally is on the first page, I’m unlucky as Bo carter the singer is pretty huge and he always beats me, but type Bo carter fashion and I am all over there! I love it as I find out lots of things about myself...

Photo’s curtsey of Underground studios