Located in the heart of London’s affluent Notting Hill, designer Nicola Woods is working away in her studio. The Creative Director of her own label, Beautiful Soul, Nicola has had a busy two and a half years since the launch of her label back in 2008. “I confess; I jumped in at the deep end!” she laughs. Originally working from the confines of her bedroom, Nicola’s ascent to running her own studio has been a slow but rewarding experience. “It has been a steep yet rewarding learning curve,” she concedes.

When The Detour originally profiled her nearly two years ago, Nicola had already been awarded the EFF INNOVATION award in February 2009, only months after Beautiful Soul was founded. It’s clear when I meet her for this interview that none of Nicola’s original determination and drive has waned. Not only has Nicola set up her first studio which allows her to have an organised base, but the last few years have seen Beautiful Soul featured in both Vogue and Tatler Asia, exhibiting at both London and Paris Fashion Weeks and worn by the likes of Lily Cole and Laura Bailey.

This is an impressive feat for anyone, even more so considering Nicola’s commitment to UK-based production and ethical and sustainable fabric sourcing. Responsible fashion can, undeservedly, often be branded as inferior to other, more mass-market brands but Beautiful Soul is one of the many labels consistently proving the sceptics wrong. “Because of our approach to production, attention to detail and superior standards, we have had a positive response from international buyers.”

This international attention has extended as far as Asia, thanks to Beautiful Soul’s involvement in Interstoff Asia’s textile fair. “Beautiful Soul is quintessentially English with a wholly international appeal,” explains Nicola.

While her current focus is on both London and Paris Fashion Weeks which are fast approaching (Beautiful Soul is exhibiting at London’s Ecoluxe and Felicities Presents as part of Vauxhall Fashion Scout and Paris’s Zip Zone Louvre), Nicola has been careful to map out exactly how she wants the business to develop over the next three years. “I am looking forward to growing Beautiful Soul as a major label recognised globally. I am fuelled and passionate about pushing responsible fashion forward into the mainstream.” Despite having her work cut out, her achievements over the last three years show that this definitely won’t be a problem for Nicola and Beautiful Soul.

For more information visit www.beautiful-soul.co.uk