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Fashion designer, 11, wows on Wolverhampton catwalk

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Quay Jarn Clarke. Photo by Terri-Anne Davis

Homework, football and designing clothes for his latest fashion line – meet the 11-year-old designer from the West Midlands.

Eleven-year-old Quay Jarn Clarke from Birmingham has showcased his clothing line at a charity fashion show in Wolverhampton to raise awareness for people living with skin conditions.

Quay was among other local designers lending their clothes to raise money for the Vitiligo Society – a charity which supports and educates people about vitiligo.

A total of 25 models with skin conditions or a disability were hand-picked from all over the country to walk in the BEYOU fashion show in Wolverhampton on Sunday, October 20.

Quay, who juggles school work, football and designing his clothing line ‘Star in da makin’ hopes to inspire people through his work.

Photo by Terri-Anne Davis

He said: “I believe that people are always stars and they should believe in themselves. I started designing clothes in July; when I come home from school, I get a scratch-book and then I draw. Everyone is proud of me and they are telling to keep it up.”

The schoolboy’s father, Reuben Clarke, believes his son may now be ready to host his own fashion show.

Mr Clarke said: “After today, if he is going to do one, he will do his own and bring everyone else in. I think he is doing very well you know, he has been bothering us for the last two years.

"From the age of nine he has been pushing himself. He asked us again last year, so we thought this year we will give it a try. We started off really for his football friends, more and more people were liking it, so it just went further and further.

"It was a big surprise, he was in a football team so I thought he already was facing a dream, but you always have to have a back-up plan and he thought of this, which is good. He is pushing the young ones."

Quay’s designs are selling across the world, reaching Wales, America and Jamaica.

Photo by Terri-Anne Davis

His father said:” I’m not going to lie, they are going very well, that’s why there were so many different styles today. There was at least over twenty different styles of all types of stuff. Every week, guaranteed, a couple of them go.”

Reuben believes his son deserves all of the credit.

He added: “I have had no input in it, his mom has just been guiding him and he has been thinking of all of the ideas. So, I have got to say, it is no credit to his parents. It’s all him.

The event’s organiser, Chantel Auty created the show to bring together people who have struggled with skin conditions. She was diagnosed with Lichen planus – an auto immune disease which left her with hyper-pigmentation.

Inspired by her cousin, teenage Primark model, Kaiden Williams who has vitiligo, Chantel was able to create the BEYOU fashion show in the hopes of reinforcing confidence in other people.

Kaiden’s mother, Dominique Williams believes her son’s confidence is what inspired Chantel to embrace her skin condition.

She said: “Kaiden’s confidence and ability to light up a room has been an infectious factor that inspired his cousin, Chantel. It was this confidence that she saw in Kaiden, his modelling and how he was embraced by the fashion industry that left her feeling like she wanted to show off her scars and raise awareness.”

She added: “Kaiden was happy to be the face of the event as it is also everything he stands for and believes in.”

Keira Walton, age nine, from Wolverhampton, who was one of the models said: “I thought it was really nice of them to support the charity and I am really happy that we gave the money to support. I think the clothes were very nice and I would wear them.”

By Queenie Goredema

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