Ethical entrepreneur Sissy Rooney is on a mission to create a global fashion brand and help aspiring fashion designers to achieve their dreams.

The 32-year-old, who is a finalist in the inaugural UK Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award 2009, has just returned from a life-changing two-week tour of the Indian fashion industry, where she visited Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Sissy, who grew up in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, paid the visit with five other finalists in the running for the UKYFE09, are now they are all busy coming up with ideas as to how the Indian fashion sector could be related to their work here in the UK.

The finalists will present their ideas in January and the winner will be announced at the prestigious London Fashion Week in February.  

Sissy, who founded her company “Street Style Surgery” in 2007, uses fashion as a medium to instill confidence within the youth of today. Through her workshops she introduces young people from all backgrounds to the fashion design industry and teaches them how to be entrepreneurial through their own creative talent and skills. Sissy raises awareness of all aspects of the fashion industry, from the design process, through to colour and fabrics, manufacturing, marketing, consumerism, costing and profit margins, as well as the ethics of the fashion industry.

Sissy has worked with over 1,000 youngsters aged between six and 25 over the past 7 months through various organisations including special needs schools, mainstream schools, homeless organisations, and even an outdoor parks project.

Fresh from her visit to India, Sissy says her passion for fashion has been reignited. She revealed: “Going to India has been a life changing experience and it has made me even more ambitious.

“It has made me want to expand on what I have done and develop my entrepreneurial flair. My friends are calling me the Anita Ruddick of fashion design - which would be a fabulous title to have!

“I now want to design a new collection utilizing the embellishment work I have seen, and source my manufacturing in India.

“I want to set up links with UK designers and fashion students so they too can utilise the skills of the Indian crafts people, and I also want to explore the possibilities of bringing people over from India to share their skills with students here.”

Looking to the future Sissy wants Street Style Surgery to have its own globally recognized fashion label, designed by young people in the UK and manufactured ethically in India, with young people’s charities in both countries benefiting from the proceeds.

The Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award is one of nine awards for young creative entrepreneurs being developed by the British Council with support from NESTA, the Cultural Leadership Programme, trade associations and professional bodies within the creative sector.

Sissy accredits much of her success to the Striding Out project, which was fundamental in the setting up and progression of her company, providing her with a wealth of contacts and a solid support network for advice and guidance on all aspects of business.

Sissy says: "Striding out is a great resource for like minded entrepreneurs to meet and share ideas, to learn more about the business world and discover new ways of implementing ideas."

Heather Wilkinson, founder of Striding Out, describes Sissy as business savvy as well as fashion savvy and says: “Sissy has put a lot of determination, time and effort into developing a sustainable business which is going from strength to strength with a growing portfolio of clients.”

Sissy was named one of the Striding Out’s Future 100 Entrepreneurs at The Future 100 North of England event at Blackburne House Liverpool, on November 20^th 2008.

For more information about "Street Style Surgery" visit www.streetstylesurgery.co.uk