Sandwell fashion designer on plans for West Midlands fashion week

As he geared up for his third New York Fashion Week, Jashaan Gill admitted he still felt the pressure, despite being in the industry for more than a decade.

"The hustle is real. Even now, 12 or 13 years into the journey, it's very much still about having to prove yourself," he said.

That journey started in 2014 when the self-taught artist from Oldbury, Sandwell, launched his clothing brand Jheez, shortly after he was rejected from studying textiles.

He went on to become the first ever British Punjabi designer to be featured at New York Fashion Week, and his work has also been showcased in Paris, Los Angeles and London.

For this year's New York event, which kicked off on Thursday, Gill created a collection based on the theme of self-belief.

The outfits were very "flashy", he told BBC Radio WM, and were full of crystals and rhinestones, perfect for those who dared to be the "main attraction in the room".

Gill said: "I wanted to express myself in a different way, so the collection really takes inspiration from not losing your spark and not changing your character to fit in."

The showcases always presented opportunities, he added, as you never knew who was going to be watching.

"That's how some of my other projects have come along," he explained.

"They see how successful I am at fashion week and how I haven't crumbled under that immense amount of pressure."

Throughout his meteoric rise, Gill has never been shy about being a "boy from Oldbury".

He said West Midlands' diversity should be celebrated, adding: "It's shaped me as an individual because I'm able to take on different opinions that can form my judgement.

"It's the best thing to have different people and different ways of life, living all together to have a positive outcome."

Despite his love for his home, Gill said the region did not really have a fashion sector and he has been tempted to move to somewhere like London or the United States.

"I want to build my platform here but I also don't want to limit my career at the same time," he added.

However, Gill said he wanted to build a creative "ecosystem" in the region as part of his work to give back to the community.

He said he was working on launching a Midlands Fashion Week but wanted the wider project to involve more creative industries, like music.

"At the moment, I'm coming home to try and introduce everyone to the fashion industry," he added.

"We are ready, it's just that no-one has taken that step so I feel like I should take that step."

It is a "massive" ambition, Gill added, but he was determined to see it come to fruition.

"My career has been a massive rollercoaster, so why not add another chapter to that story."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds , Facebook , X and Instagram .

How colourful stripes (and rubber chickens) helped Paul Smith conquer the fashion world

Something old, something new - the designers reimagining NI fashion

Designer to reveal collection in Paris Fashion Week