Train 2000 - The Centre for Women's Enterprise and Employment

When 24-year-old Katy Rees started up her own business she never imaged that premiership footballers from Liverpool and Everton would be among her first customers. The former John Moors Fine Art student opened up 'Unity Designs Boutique' on Smithdown Road earlier this year where she provides customised clothing and accessories to suit any budget.

Katy became self-employed after receiving business advice and support from Liverpool-based Train 2000 which supports women into business start-up across Cheshire and Merseyside.

She said:

"I am very much an artist as opposed to a designer - I produce customised urban clothing and footwear using a combination of airbrush techniques, painted designs and exclusive Swarovski crystals.

I started off by putting some of my work on to a MySpace site - and was pleasantly surprised when a premiership footballer saw my work and asked me to customise a pair of his trainers. And, it snowballed from there, with a number of other footballers contacting me and asking me to customise their footwear and clothing. Business has been really good so far and I never expected that some of my very first customers would be celebrities from the world of football and the music industry, it has really given my business a boost."

Artist, Katy, who has always enjoyed spray painting at events and festivals got the idea for her business after doing some design work on a pair of her own trainers, "people kept asking me where I got them from, " she said. "Literally people were stopping me in the street wanting to know where they could get some too - and I realised that this was an opportunity not to be missed."

Katy says that whilst the work she undertakes is extremely big in America, there is no one else in Liverpool or the surrounding areas offering the same service.

"I don't know of anyone else who customises clothing and footwear like I do and that's why I think it is proving to be so popular. People like to look individual and I guarantee everyone that their design is an original. When I first started up in business I got a £250 bank loan and bought as many trainers as I could and then customised them - it has really grown from there."

Prior to becoming self-employed Katy was working in bars and restaurants just to make some money whilst she pursued her career as an artists.

"I have always wanted to become an artist, it is an extremely difficult area of work to get into and I felt that self-employment was my best option. And, it is really paying off, although it is a struggle at times, I am absolutely loving it, it is very fulfilling knowing that you're working for yourself. And, I feel really proud when I see people walking round wearing clothing or footwear that have my artwork on them."

And, Katy has also teamed up with one of her friends who is a fashion designer to offer a range of exclusive clothing, as an extra to her business this autumn. Prior to opening up 'Unity Designs Boutique' Katy received support from Train 2000. She said:

"Train 2000 were extremely helpful and I would definitely recommend the organisation onto other women looking to start up in business. They provided me with good business advice and helped me to put my business plan together properly."

To find out more about 'Unity Designs' visit www.myspace.com/unitydesigns.