Original 'mod look' creator Gill Evans, 75, from Sutton Coldfield wins Birmingham Fashion Designer of the Year 2019 award

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A talented clothes designer from Sutton Coldfield who has been on-trend for more than 50 years has picked up a prestigious industry award.

Gill Evans Catling from Little Aston scooped her first industry honour when she was named the Birmingham Fashion Designer of the Year at the Corporate LiveWire Prestige Awards 2019 this week.

Gill was presented with the award at the media company’s headquarters – The Big Peg – in Birmingham on Tuesday (October 22).

Gill is most famous for the ‘mod look’ having started her fashion career in the Swinging Sixties.

The former Moseley School of Art student left in 1960 and was first known for coming up with the ‘continental look’ – bringing French and Italian design to this country.

She is known as the ‘original mods girl’ and has been on TV and radio, most recently in a BBC 4 documentary Mods, Rockers and Bank Holiday Mayhem.

The 75-year-old still loves designing and was thrilled to receive her first honour after her 50 plus year career.

Gill said: “It’s fabulous. It’s just an accolade for all the years I have done this.

“I have my Mod Togs own clothing label and a company, Gill Evans Designs. This is the first award I have ever had.

“In the 60s I was a designer for fashion boutiques. At art school I had been training to be a designer, pattern cutter and a garment technologist.

“When I left, I then started to look for people that wanted something designed and made. Boutiques started popping in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

“I designed my own garments. I have still got my original designs that I did in 1960. I kept all the sketches.

“Now I have a large studio at my home in Little Aston where clients can come along and have something designed and made.

“I specialise in my Mod Togs label and there is always a demand for it. It’s a look that people have rather than something people buy for special occasions.”

read more at https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/original-mod-look-creator-gill-17146493