Live Q&A: Becoming a fashion designer

The fashion blogosphere went berserk when Marina from Marina & the Diamonds stepped out in a Yang Du dress, adorned with a huge cartoon hippo design.

While it might not have been akin to the crazed coverage when Lady Gaga wore the infamous meat dress, the media interest in her fabulous creation didn't end there - a few months later Paloma Faith wore the same dress to the V Festival, sparking "who wore it better?" debates. Yang Du recently told the Evening Standard how celebs taking a fancy to her collection was a boost at a tough time, because she hadn't sold at all in her first two seasons.

She is not the only young designer basking in fantastic exposure - graduates of London College of Fashion recently showcased their work to a star-studded audience, including Grayson Perry, Lulu Guinness and Jo Wood.

But, failing a high-profile or celebrity endorsement, what are your chances of getting noticed? What else can budding designers do to get fashion houses and the media to pay attention? And, if you don't want to launch your own collection, what does it take to get a label to take you on?

So, providing you can tear yourself away from monitoring the international fashion weeks, and London's impending event, join us and a panel of industry insiders to find out more about making your mark on the competitive world of fashion design in a live Q&A on 14 February.

The discussion will take place in the comments below - advance questions are welcome.

Our panel:

Jenny Holloway is director of Fashion Enter, an organisation committed to supporting fashion enterprise and helping new designers enter the fashion world. Jenny has been working in the fashion industry for more than 25 years.

Katarina Rimarcikova has worked for high-end fashion labels such as Alexander McQueen and Gucci alongside freelance collaborations with various labels and designers. Katarina set up her own label in 2006.

Andrew Groves is the course director of the BA Fashion Design degree at the University of Westminster. Andrew's own background in fashion is extensive and has included being head assistant to Alexander McQueen.

Stephanie Finnan is owner of The Fashion Careers Clinic, a careers advice service specifically for fashion, textiles and accessories designers. Stephanie lectures at various schools, colleges and universities across the UK and is currently launching a short course for 16- to 18-year-olds on fashion careers, in partnership with the Fashion & Textile Museum. She is also author of How To Prepare For A Career In Fashion.

Dr Maggi Toner-Edgar is director of Toner-Edgar Creative Style Consultancy. Prior to launching this business Maggi was a fashion designer, directing a design and manufacturing business for seven years. She is a member of the Chartered Society of Designers and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Caroline Greenslade has worked in a range of design roles for the past 19 years. Caroline most recently was head of design for Debenhams and is currently working on the launch of her own brand for autumn/winter 2011. Caroline is also a member of the Skillset Fashion and Textiles Skills Council, which to advises and guides on all aspects of skills development for the industry throughout the UK.

John Little, who studied at The London College of Fashion (LCF), is one of two graduates who joined the John Lewis fashion design studio in August 2009 after beating 48 of his fellow students to the position. As a design graduate at John Lewis, John has been able to experience every part of the fashion design process.

Fashion designer Vanessa Knox set up her own brand, Vanessa Knox Limited, which launches next week. She is also the co-founder of luxury womenswear brand Isabella Oliver.

Ann Guise is a qualified careers adviser who runs a small bridal design business specialising in silk wedding veils. Ann worked for 14 years in the costume departments at BBC Television Centre, London and then in Cardiff. She has also worked as a freelance costume designer and in the fashion retail trade and has been awarded awarded fellowship of the Chartered Society of Designers.
Donna Ives is course leader on the BA Fashion Design at the University for the Creative Arts, Rochester. Prior to going into teaching, Donna worked as a designer in the fashion industry for ten years.