I am at a turning point in my life and asking for the support of my community to help me take it.

I am going back to school (fashion school), not because I failed, but because I have grown.

To raise funds for my studies, I am taking on a personal challenge: walking the entire 78-mile Capital Ring around London in 8 days starting March 23rd, 2026. This circular route passes through 15 sections, stretching from Woolwich to Beckton District Park, and winds through some of London’s most beautiful open spaces, nature reserves and hidden scenery. Every step I take is towards building a more secure, skilled and sustainable future and your support will help make that possible.

Even if fashion is not your world, your support would go a long way. I am asking that you to stand behind someone who is prepared to walk 78 miles in pursuit of growth, skill and a better future.

Why? I refuse to believe that a decision I made at 18 should dictate the rest of my life. If that were true, many of us would still be living by choices that no longer serve who we are today.

I have always known I was meant to be my own boss. There is no way around it. To do that properly, I need to be skilled, resourceful and prepared, not just creatively but technically too.

Why fashion, and why now?

My love for fashion began long before I had the words for it. Growing up in Sierra Leone clothes were not bought off a rail, they were created through community. Fabric was sourced carefully, bargained for thoughtfully, and transformed by a seamstress into something meaningful for an occasion. Each garment carried pride, identity and story.

As a child, I did not always appreciate it. I wanted to be outside playing, not trailing behind my mum through fabric markets. But as I grew older, I began to understand the beauty in that process, the artistry, skill and care stitched into every piece.

When I moved to London at age seven and saw couture celebrated at the highest level of fashion, everything clicked. I recognised fashion as art, layered with storytelling which was something I instinctively understood.

Although I did not follow a traditional fashion route, creativity and problem-solving have always shaped how I move through the world. I went on to study a BSc in Psychology and Criminology, followed by an MSc in Clinical Psychology, yet I gradually came to understand that structured, inflexible workplaces did not suit my creative nature. I persevered for a decade; despite the toll it took where it became deeply depressing.

Now, I am answering the call which became impossible to ignore. However, my prior studies were not in vain as my experience across health, technology and operations provide transferable skills that support me in running a business and gaining consumer insight.

Why I need this training?

My business is self-funded. After investing heavily on prototypes for my first collection, I realised that earlier technical training would have saved significant time, cost and waste. This fundraiser exists so I do not repeat that mistake.

By gaining in-house expertise, I’ll be able to:

• Scale more sustainably

• Retain creative control

• Reduce waste from excessive sampling and outsourcing

• Build a stronger, more resilient business for future collections (2027 and beyond).

What I’m raising funds for / how donations will be used:

Completion of four practical, courses at the University of the Arts London (UAL) over the course of a year:

• Fashion Design (LCF Summer School) – £2,400 (Starting June 2026)

• The Complete Womenswear Pattern Cutting Short Course - £3780 (Starting January 2027)

These courses will give me the foundational skills by industry professionals to independently develop patterns, construct garments, refine collections and communicate effectively with manufacturers.

How you can help?

By donating, you are not just funding courses you are investing in a long-term vision rooted in skill, sustainability and self-determination.

You are backing someone who is willing to walk 78 miles, literally and figuratively, to build something meaningful.

Contribute what your heart tells you, or simply what you can afford. Even swapping one lunch out for a packed one day could turn into a £10 donation. And if not, sharing is just as appreciated.

Thank you for believing in second chances, brave pivots and the power of community.

Avril xx