A FORMER fire service technician is hoping to set the fashion industry alight after making his mark in the design capitals of the world.

Cleveland College of Art & Design textiles graduate Roozbeh Ghanadi has been selected as one of just 15 young designers from across the globe to travel to Lake Como, Milan, to take part in the creativity sharing project comON.

The Hartlepool-campus based 29-year-old, who worked as part of the technical support team at Teesside Airport’s Fire Training School, had his work chosen by design industry experts after exhibiting his prints in London as part of Textprint 2013.

“I never thought anything like this would ever happen to me,” said Roozbeh, originally of Middleton St George, near Darlington.

“When I was made redundant I had to think about what to do with the rest of my life and as I’d always loved drawing at school I decided to apply to do a course at CCAD.”

After studying a three year BA (Hons) in textiles and surface design Roozbeh’s designs were put forward by tutor Claire Baker for Texprint 2013, a competition which mentors and promotes the UK’s most talented textile design graduates and he was one of the few designers chosen out of more than 200 applicants.

As well as having his work displayed in London, Roozbeh has also been showcasing his prints at the Indigo design show in Paris.

Roozbeh has just flown out to Milan to take part in the two month project where he will take part in a full calendar of events, exhibitions, internships, meetings and workshops culminating in a creative exhibition in Lake Como.