A SELF-TAUGHT teenage fashion designer has set up his own label to fulfil his dreams of building a clothing empire.
Randell Sergeant, 18, from southeast London, knew early on what he wanted to pursue as a career.
He told The Voice: “I’ve always strived to be an individual and I have a creative nature. I’m quite business orientated and I see fashion design as a real gateway to innovation.
“It was at an early age that I needed to look different from my peers, but I wanted to go one step further than buying clothes in the local shops.”
At the age of 15, Sergeant began making clothes for himself in his spare time. However, eager to improve his sewing and textiles skills, the teenager would stay behind after school to practise his technique.
He said: “A few years ago I had to choose between buying an Italian design book or a pair of £160 trainers. Most 15-year-olds would have chosen the trainers, but I decided to buy the book instead.”
The sacrifice was worthwhile and helped him win a place at college to study textiles at A-level. And it was not long before he started making clothes for others.
Sergeant said: “Since that initial investment, I’ve probably spent roughly £2,000 of my own money I had saved to make my own designs.”
Inspired by Sir Richard Branson, Sergeant launched the fashion label SerDrey in 2011 and credited his hard work ethic for securing a place at London College of Fashion (LCF).
“I was making lots of garments outside college and participating myself in fashion shows. When I applied for LCF, I was enthused with the same amount of passion to get into this world class fashion university,” he added.
“Pressure is something that as an entrepreneur I have to become accustomed to.”