Designer scoops award (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Designer scoops award

Emma TurkChildren's clothes designer Emma Turk has set her sights on the big time after winning the Wootton Bassett new business of the year contest.

Mrs Turk, 32, of Broad Hinton, was named the winner on Tuesday night after wooing judges with her business plan for her luxury girlswear collection called Emmie. She received £1,000 in prize money.

She said: "I'm delighted and will put the money towards an embroidering machine. My aim is to launch the collection prior to Christmas and I'm confident it will do well."

Mrs Turk has freelanced for Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Laura Ashley, United Colours of Benetton and has even worked on the Oscar dresses of stars such as Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman when working in Italy for Alberta Ferretti.

Mrs Turk, who is married and has a 15-year-old stepson, did her A-levels at Wootton Bassett School before graduating with an MA from the Royal College of Art in London in 1998.

Her collection will be launched with a red-themed Russian princess line followed by a white Snowqueen line.

Wootton Bassett Chamber of Commerce chairman Brian Taylor said: "Emma is a very talented and extremely knowledgeable young lady."