Nicole Christie
I never shy away from hardwork.I’m a determined person...that comes from my past with my illness
A talented young Lanarkshire fashion designer, who has showcased her striking, sustainable designs on a worldwide stage under the watchful eye of royalty and the biggest names in the business, makes no secret of the personal battle that has made her so determined to succeed.
At the age of 16, Nicole Christie developed an eating disorder which landed her in hospital.
Considering herself lucky to have come out the other side, 25-year-old Nicole is now a proud ambassador for the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, Beat, which campaigns to end the pain and suffering of people who struggle with what is a serious mental illness.
Much has been achieved, says Nicole, to end the stigma that was associated with mental health and eating disorders when she was a teenager, when she was “categorised and labelled, which was why it took so long to get help.”
She echoes the charity’s view that the fashion industry – in which she has undoubtedly become one to watch – can regretfully promote a very limited picture of the ideal body type through images that can encourage people who are affected to continue or worsen their disordered eating.
Inspirational Nicole
– a public speaker and fundraiser of more than £10,000 for the charity – has channelled the tenacity and resolve that she mustered during her recovery into staking her claim as one of the brightest, most promising new stars on the fashion design scene.
She launched her fashion brand, Ellipsis, in October last year, with a commitment to slowing the pace of so-called fast fashion and propel on to the market seasonless, sustainable garments that wearers will cherish for years to come, thus reducing textile waste and its harsh impact on the environment.
Although she displayed a keen interest in fashion from a young age, Nicole was hooked on following the fortunes of aspiring fashion designers on US reality TV series Project Runway, and entered numerous Tammy Girl design competitions.
Her path into fashion design was far from conventional.
“When I was younger, I was always interested in fashion, but I also had a passion for dance,” said Nicole, who studied at
Dance Studio Scotland, based at Anniesland College.
“When I regained good health, I wanted to pursue something that I would need good health for. But in all honesty, I did not know where I was going with dance.”
Although she’d never before sewn or threaded up a machine, she left her dance course after three years in favour of studying fashion at