New Inverness beauty scouting agency in search for fresh talent
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The mums have launched Unicorn Directory, their own agency, hoping for a flood of people of all ages, shapes and sizes to sign up to their books to feed the demand from fashion designers for people to show-off their clothes.
“Things seem to have reached a stalemate in Inverness,” Ms James said.
“It’s always the same faces that we’re seeing. I think it’s a lack of confidence. People don’t think they’re good enough to take that first step but we’re going to give them a bit of a push.”
The creative duo have a strong background in the industry with local modelling experience.
And the little business aims to cash-in because the only other local modelling agency is no longer on the scene.
But the shortage of local models has reached crisis point with only a handful of people available for assignments.
Mother-of-one Ms James (30) said: “There’s only a few models that we see regularly, and they’re all in their mid-20s.
“But Maggie Blyth boutique in Beauly is always looking for more mature people so anyone who feels they can fill that gap could pick up a new hobby and earn money at the same time.
“And Highland Fairy [fashion designer] likes to have people with a bit of attitude.”
She added: “Looking airbrushed is not what it is all about. We work with photographer Ash Davidson, of AFD imaging, and he doesn’t edit people’s faces, he changes the contrast instead.”
The new agency also serves as a directory for creative-minded locals, where photography events, photofests and hair and make-up workshops will be organised to “inject some fun and professionalism into the city”.
And there are plans for an Inverness Top Model contest.
The team will also be running a clothes-making workshop with local designers, culminating in a fashion show.
“It would be nice to show Inverness as a fashion place,” Ms James said. “Our launch at the Trinity Church Hall was a huge success. We thought we’d maybe get 10 people but we doubled that easy and got some good test shots, which was the main thing.”
She believes there is also potential for models to sign up to bigger, central belt agencies, with the help of Unicorn Directory.
“We have already been in touch with one of the larger modelling agencies in Glasgow to promote someone that we have,” she said. “As soon as we saw her we knew she was a natural.”
- For more, email unicorndirectory@mail.co.uk
