Drew was told to believe in his talent
Fashion designer Drew Kent(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
A Scouser was persuaded not to give up on his dream and the advice paid off. Drew Kent, 24, from Woolton, is a fashion designer and has designed clothes for the likes of Joe Lycett while his work has appeared in Vogue and Dazed.
Specialising in knitwear, Dres has more than 6,000 followers on Instagram who love the creative designs modelled by himself and others. Drew is also a scholar at the British Fashion Council and has studied fashion at Central Saint Martins, a prestigious institution in London. He was initially offered the chance to study fashion at his school before opting to do so at Carmel College in St Helens.
However, Drew nearly gave up on the fashion world before going to university as he felt there was a lack of opportunities for people from queer, working class backgrounds like him. He told the ECHO: “I always dressed up when I was younger and loved art. I wanted to study fashion and the tutor allowed me too but, because I went to an all-boys school, I felt it was frowned upon.
“I moved to Carmel College and found myself. I found my design style and what I wanted to do, what message I wanted to put out there. It was difficult though. I remember going to my tutor in college and saying, I really don’t think I can do this, I’ll go work in the Jaguar factory or something.
“That’s what all the lads in high school are doing. They had good jobs and were being paid good money. Going into fashion was quite daunting. But my tutor guided me and said, ‘you have a talent, you need to stay on this path.'”
Drew specialises in knitwear(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Drew feels like his experience at Central Saint Martins changed him for the better and gave him the opportunity to showcase his work to huge audiences. He said: “Since university, a lot of opportunities and different things have come up. I’ve been in several magazines from first year to graduating. I’m getting approached by stylists and my work has appeared in Dazed, Hunger and Vogue.
“I’ve had opportunities from different celebrities – the main one was Joe Lycett. He wore one of my cardigans for a campaign shoot of his late night live show. He also wore a piece of mine for Sky Arts.”
Drew has also worked with DJs Eliza Rose and Natasha Diggs. He said he is heavily influenced by being a queer, working-class artist. He said: “I got a fashion scholarship from the British Fashion Council. I’m from a working-class background so that really helped me. My graduate collection came from my experiences, textures and colours from childhood. All fashion has to come from somewhere.
“To be original, you have to come from somewhere beyond the realm of fashion. My design style comes from what I’d wear, just exaggerated.”
Drew has designed clothes for the likes of comedian Joe Lycett and DJs Eliza Rose and Natasha Diggs(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Drew is now back home in Merseyside and feels there are differences compared to when he left for university. He said: “I’m still doing what I did back in London. Liverpool gives me amazing opportunities. I did an interview with a Walker Art Gallery. I feel like it’s changed. I feel a lot more comfortable now.”
Drew is keen to show that people from any background, including queer and working-class ones. He said: “Before I left London, I was part of a group of northerners who talked about how great the north is and how we can create strong identities within the fashion world.
“Within universities, especially in London, some of the people have a mass amount of money. We came together and realised we’re some of the best designers and we came from nothing.
“It just shows you don’t have to have a wealthy background to create something for yourself. I think the fashion industry is oversaturated but as long what you’re doing is original, there’s no reason for it not to thrive.”