Her quirky, eclectic style has already caught the eyes of fashion industry insiders and it’s easy to see why.

Britt Beale’s loft studio overflows with examples of her work; necklaces made from vintage teacups, mannequins swathed in bold tartans and an award-winning pink, lace prom dress.

Great rolls of fabric poke out from under a vast worktable and a row of adorable handbags in the shape of ice cream cones hang jauntily from the skylight.

Two sewing machines stand against one wall and, opposite, a pinboard is crammed with illustrations, magazine cuttings, photos and sketches, providing an insight into the designer’s world. This is where 23-year-old Britt creates her vintage inspired designs, each item an appealing blend of childlike playfulness and traditional British charm, often making use of found objects.

“I’m a car-booter and I love collecting things,” says Britt who exhibited at Clothes Show Live this year.

“I’m a bit of a hoarder and I’m always picking up old trinkets. I like the idea of make-do-and-mend and the way some things can be kept and treasured.

“My designs are playful and fun with an element of the countryside and outdoor living which probably comes from living in the Forest,” adds Britt, who graduated from Winchester School of Art in 2008.

She went on to showcase her work at Graduate Fashion Week where she won the coveted Mulberry Accessories Award.

It was here she was spotted by online boutique artistspringboard.com which champions up-and-coming designers and brands. Britt’s vintage-style lace dress and those ice cream handbags, pictured below, are now among the website’s best-sellers.

“There is definitely more of an appetite for vintage at the moment,” says Britt who cut her teeth in a wedding dress shop.

“In the 90s, fashion was a bit more futuristic but I think the recession has brought back our love of the swap shop and a back to basics feel. People are more interested in buying British and buying things to last.

Fashion has become less disposable.”

While admiring designers like Vivienne Westwood (“quintessentially British”) and Moschino (“so playful”) Britt also takes inspiration from the unlikely and eccentric characters she spots in everyday life.

Ranging from £25 for a bag to around £70 for a dress, classic edge and long-lasting appeal of Britt’s designs means they are coveted by women in their 70s as well as trendsetting teens.

“I often start with a vintage fabric and I’m always looking at pictures in books and old magazines for inspiration,” says Britt, who also runs a bespoke dressmaking and alterations service from her home near Lymington.

“Before starting work I make sketches and collect fabrics. I make everything myself on machines using my own home-made paper patterns. I’ve never wanted to work for anyone else and my ultimate dream is to have my own shop selling vintage items alongside my own designs.”

At the moment, Britt is freelancing for Carry On Costumes, the New Forest company behind the costumes for this year’s pantomime at the Mayflower, Southampton.

“It’s so different designing for the stage,”

says Britt who is currently working on a collection of costumes for Paul O’Grady who plays Dame Widow Twankey.

“It’s a completely different way of thinking. You have to consider how it’s going to look from a distance and what colours and fabrics will stand out on stage.

“I can’t reveal too much about it but it will be extravagant and fun on a Chinese theme and, it’s for Lily [Savage], so of course there will be some animal print involved! Let’s just say, it’s not your average panto dame costume collection.

“We’ve had several fittings already and when the show starts I’ll be working in wardrobe, helping with costume changes and any last minute tweaks.”

Asked to sum up her own style, Britt giggles. “Dishevelled,” she replies adding: “I don’t think fashion should be too serious.”