A fake business created as part of her final year project at university has turned into a very real venture for a Sauchie textile design graduate.

Paula Fox was inspired to make PonyoSquid Ski Apparel after she suffered a skiing accident while on the slopes in France.

The 25-year-old hit ice on her “last run” and was knocked unconscious.

When she came to she was lying on the side of the mountain unable to move due to damage to her collarbone and shoulder.

She says it was her bright clothing that meant she was spotted early and saved from further injury.

Paula, who is a former St Modan’s High School pupil, said, “If I wasn’t wearing bright colours, if I was wearing black, I could have been mistaken for a boulder or a fence.” The accident left her with cartilage damage to her shoulder (she is awaiting surgery) which prevents her from doing sports such as swimming and rock climbing. It hasn’t, however, stopped her from getting back on the slopes, even if it has dented her confidence.

She said, “The first time I went back on the mountain was three months after the accident. I didn’t want to leave it too long as the fear would have got worse. Every time I go back on the mountain I get terrified, especially when there is a blizzard or it’s particularly windy and there is hidden ice kicking around.” Drawing on her accident, she came up with a colour-coded range of ski jackets as part of her final year course work studying Textiles and Business at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. Each colour represents the level of skier from beginner (green) to advanced (red) while an in-built lighting system triggers during poor visibility.

She said, “Because I’m from Scotland I ski around here and see accidents happen all the time. By colour coding, more experienced skiers can see beginners, to avoid them, or if someone is having difficulty they can flag down a more experienced skier. Initially the brand idea was visibility on the mountain. The colour-coded and lights came later.” Her brand idea proved so successful that she took it outside of university and was invited to take her business to a Manchester Ski Show where she sold out most of her stock. Then in June her designs were shown at London’s annual New Designers exhibition in June.

Now Paula has been shortlisted for the Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards which offers winners £1000 and PR for their business. The decision comes down to a public vote and Paula hopes to use the winnings to set up her own textile studio in Dundee.

To vote go online to www.shell-livewire.org/awards/grand-ideas-awards/#votingarea