Fashion stylist

I’m a fashion stylist because...

“It’s fun! It encourages self-expression and confidence and brings people together. I love being a chameleon and adopting different styles.

I realised at a young age that I wanted to work in fashion so I was very driven and used every opportunity to develop my skills. I work in a department store offering style advice to clients. I also do some designing and online blogging, construct outfits for photoshoots and attend fashion shows.

I recently dropped from having a mild hearing loss to a severe/profound hearing loss. I use two hearing aids and a relay software programme for phone calls and I sometimes need a Sign Supported English interpreter.

One of my proudest achievements is moving to New York to work for the designer Alexander Wang. I was worried about communicating with people but it turned out to be the most important experience of my life. It taught me so much about my relationships with people and my deafness."

Connor Downey