Max Onn, a 23-year-old clothes designer from Bournemouth, is looking to make a name for himself after receiving two SWEF grants totalling £1,200 via the Dorset Community Foundation.

Max, who is largely self taught in designing and making clothes, is gaining a strong reputation for the edgy, distressed look of his shirts, jackets and hoodies.

He was told about the SWEF fund by another grant recipient and applied.

“The application process was really easy in the end,” he said. “At first I was a bit anxious about explaining what I wanted to do, but when I spoke to everyone and had an online meeting it was very chilled out and everyone was very nice.”

He spent his first £500 grant on stock, a cutting table, storage and other equipment. The second grant of £700 will pay for a website where he can sell his creations and a camera to help him promote his brand on social media.

“The grant has really helped my business and having the right equipment and being able to buy stock has helped make me much better at producing clothes."

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