The island’s coastline and a scallop fishing net proved to be the inspiration for former Isle of Man College art and design student Natalie Hodgson’s award-winning shoe collection.

Natalie, who came to live in the island when she was just six months old, was also educated at Kirk Michael Primary School and Queen Elizabeth II High School.

She is now in her final year at the London College of Fashion studying footwear design. She has just won a prestigious award, The Cordwainer Cup of Excellence in Footwear’, for her final collection.

Natalie joins an impressive list of previous winners including top shoe designer Sophia Webster.

Natalie said: ’Due to being surrounded by the ocean my whole life, I have a great respect for it and a deep fascination with what lies beneath.

’I felt that the local coastline was a personal and plentiful starting point for research generation and inspiration for my final collection.

’Research began with a focus on the natural surroundings of the beaches and harbours around the island before attention was shifted towards the items that I had been finding washed up along the coastline. This led me to look into the wider issue that is referred to as "ghost gear".

’This is where fishing equipment in particular has been either discarded or lost at sea and not only pollutes the ocean with waste, but also kills and endangers marine life in the process.

’Following this shocking realisation it became clear to me that I wanted to focus on creating a new life for this discarded fishing equipment outside of the ocean.

’Throughout this inter-seasonal womenswear collection I explored the possibilities of creating striking yet sustainable fashion by recycling waste materials from the local fishing industry in my hometown, and applying them to contemporary footwear design. The waste materials of particular interest to this collection have been the discarded fishing nets from a local queenie fisherman.

’After a range of material exploration I became fascinated with the salvaged fishing net, initially due to its colour and its fibrous texture.

’I wanted to focus on how I could utilise this particular material for the collection. I completely deconstructed the net by unwinding each knot, and then unweaving the lengths of rope to unveil each individual fibre.

’From this I developed my own beading technique, which has been used to embellish the boot, and a bristled design feature that I have incorporated into the court shoe.’

Natalie credited her initial decision to study fashion to her time at Isle of Man College.

She told the Examiner: ’It was an inspiring course where each day was filled with creativity and the art and design department of the Isle of Man College set me up very well for this course by helping me fine tune my portfolio for the university interview.

’It was actually the tutors at the college that introduced the idea to me of pursuing footwear as a career choice, combining my interest in fashion with my work in the 3D workshops.

’They have taught me a solid design process that I have applied throughout my degree and I have always received praise over the work in my sketchbook for the depth of research carried out which is a direct reflection from what I was taught at the college.’