8. Sophia Webster

Co-founders: Sophia Webster, Nicholas Kirkwood and Christopher Suarez
Founded: May 2012 
Website: www.sophiawebster.co.uk

Having graduated from the Royal College of Art where she studied a specialised MA in footwear, Sophia Webster wanted to utilise her specialist skillset and eye for creativity to create a memorable brand. With the help of renowned shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood, who Webster worked for as an assistant and the aid of fashion visionary Christopher Suarez she set about creating a range of shoes and handbags that were an ‘aesthetic completely her own with a marked femininity’. Just one year on and the company’s cutting edge designs, which include embellishments of pink flamingos, stationary and butterflies, have graced the pages of numerous high fashion magazines, with Webster awarded the New Gen Award for the second consecutive year by the British Fashion Council. Firmly establishing herself and her brand as a big name in the retail sphere, Webster is set to debut her Autumn/Winter collection at London Fashion Week this September, as well as partnering with Nail Rock to launch her own nail line. Despite only having two employees, Webster’s designs seem to sell themselves, with projected turnover figures of £4.5m for 2013.