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This Life: Dressed to thrill
Leeds-based fashion designer Jamie Steward's creations have been worn by everyone from Kylie Minogue to Victoria Beckham.
Originally from Hull, he moved to the city six years ago, co-founding independent clothes store Aqua Couture in the Corn Exchange.
The shop has now moved into the Victoria Quarter, with Jamie concentrating on creating his one-off designs.
The 32-year-old, who trained in Rome and London, was named Yorkshire Brides Couture Designer of the year in 2007.
He lives in Farsley with his partner Scott.
The best advice I've ever been given was from my tutor at college.
I went to art college and was supposed to be doing a graphic design degree.
But I did a foundation course first and found that I excelled more in the fashion side of things.
My tutor, a lady called Lynne Benson, said she thought I should pursue it.
I've got a lot to thank her for really.
The one thing I couldn't live without is my iPod.
I work from home most days and I'll have the TV on until 10 and then after that it's the iPod all the way.
I have it in one of those little dock things and then grab it when I'm going out.
I've got everything on there from Tracy Chapman and Prince to Tori Amos and Hed Kandi.
I can't work in silence. It's nice when you're on the beach or something but at home it just seems a bit lonely with nothing on in the background.
My first job was working as a silver service waiter at a hotel in Hull where .
It was just to earn myself a bit of extra pocket money when I was 16.
I was terrible at it and was constantly dropping stuff.
I remember spilling gravy all down some poor woman's dress.
I'm most proud of the fact that I've managed to make my mum and dad proud.
At school I wasn't particularly good academically and you always feel if you don't get good exam results that you've let your parents down.
Getting my degree and the Yorkshire Brides award has made them proud of me and that in turn makes me feel proud.
When my family come to one of my fashion shows it's proving to them that I can do something.
I love Leeds because everything is quite central unlike cities like Manchester where everything is so spread out.
The shopping areas and everything else there is on such a big scale but here everything is either on Briggate or just off it so it's easy to find.
There are some quite cool people here and I like the feel of the place.
It's very rare for me to relax – I find it a bit of a struggle.
If I'm not doing anything I feel guilty for not working.
The only time I really relax is when I've got a hangover and can't do any work.
Then I just sit at home in front of a film.
If I could meet someone again it would definitely be my grandma who I lost when I was at primary school.
I used to go round to her house every Friday for my lunch because she used to live just up the hill from school.
But I always used to forget so the teachers and dinner ladies kept having to remind me.
Then I'd have to run up the hill to her house so I wasn't late.
The last time I cried was probably watching a film – I'm terrible when it comes to films.
I had a few tears watching The Green Mile on TV the other week.
Before that it was probably when my dog died.
If I could design for anyone it would probably be Madonna because when she wears something everyone pays attention.
A modern day Audrey Hepburn would be great too because I think my clothes would suit her.
They're feminine but with a modern edge.
I take every day as it comes and don't tend to plan too far ahead.
I'm quite a spur-of-the-moment kind of person but I don't take anything for granted.
I've got a brother and a sister and my parents brought us up to appreciate what we had.
We were never spoilt and if we wanted something we had to go out and find a way of getting it.
My favourite joke was one I heard the other day.
Where did Saddam Hussein keep his CDs?
In a rack.
Favorite things...
Food: Anything Italian
TV programme: Will and Grace
Holiday: Family caravanning in Corsica
Actress: Goldie Hawn
Star sign: On the cusp of Gemini and Cancer
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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