A GLOBETROTTING former fashion student returned to her old college to inspire today’s students.

Andrea Miller, 29, left Cleveland College of Art and Design in 2012 and now travels to New York, Los Angeles and the Far East with her job in the denim design department of Visage, a global clothes manufacturer.

Originally from Peterlee, she first attended CCAD’s Middlesbrough campus where she studied a national diploma in film and TV.

But, while travelling in Australia and New Zealand, she realised her true passion was fashion and returned to study a fashion degree at the Hartlepool campus.

Her research put her in contact with Visage, a Hong Kong company with a distribution centre in Washington and offices in Manchester. It supplies high street retailers including New Look, Debenhams, Next, M&S and supermarkets.

She said: “When I was on my course I contacted Visage with some questions about the industry and they replied asking if I knew anyone who might want a job – I thought why not apply and I got it.

“It is hard work and can be stressful but I absolutely love it. We do a lot of trend research, which involves travelling to New York, Tokyo, Paris, LA.

Andrea returned to the college to share her story and said: “Just because you are a young girl in a small town doesn’t mean you can’t live out your dream.”

Vicky Wake, programme leader of BA (Hons) fashion at CCAD Hartlepool, said: “Andrea is a prime example of what can be achieved if you are prepared to make the most of opportunities which arise. Some of the best lifechances in the world are accessible if you have the courage to go for them.”