Northern Power House
- davinahawthorne
- Mar 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 18
The House of Radha
Demontage: How did you hear the news about your nomination for the Northern Power Women’s Award – Agent for change? How did it feel to be nominated and has this nomination made a difference to you, if so how?
Radha Singh: I was made aware that I had been nominated for a Northern Power Women’s Award via email correspondence from the organisation. I found out that one of my mentors had put my name forward. She felt that I was someone that is making positive change in the creative industries and education. My peer mentor is an inspiration to me, she was honoured by the Queen and received ‘The Queens Award for Enterprise Promotion’. As a business woman I am passionate about working hard, to grow my business in order to help make a difference and support others along the way. I have to be honest, awards and nominations are never the first thing that you think about. However when you are nominated or recognised in the industry for the difference you are making it just adds a bit of sparkle to your journey and even if you don’t win you’re still recognised which means a lot to me.
DeMontage: You are a member of the Parliamentary Society for the Arts, Fashion and Sports, can you tell us a little more about the organisation? What is your role as a member? How has it helped you as a practitioner and as an agent for change?
Radha Singh: The organisation was founded in January 2019. The Society aims to integrate creative young minds from the arts - fashion and sports industries with the UK government. A collaborative partnership that will seek to guard and guide their respective interests on a local, regional and national platform.
The Chair and founder Rebeca Riofrio has been involved in the higher education, art and fashion industry for over 19 years and believes that it is crucial to show support and educate young people in how the government serves and functions publicly. It Is through this society that we aim to make them active and responsible stakeholders with a sense of national awareness. To this end we hope to reach out and build a bridge of trust among thousands of young people across the UK. An additional aim is to address, create and convey memorandums on a need basis to the appropriate government officials, on a variety of issues and problems facing young people such as human trafficking, modern slavery, drugs, financial and other issues, especially for those who are seeking or pursuing a career in the UK arts, fashion and sports industry.
I joined in 2019 as a parliamentary member and this experience inspired me to create my award-winning learning platform and experience through THE HOUSE OF RADHA to support the next generation of creative artists and entrepreneurs. Through teaching, mentoring, live projects, masterclasses and placements we help support employability skills and provide a real insight into working in the creative industries. I am currently planning on launching The Creative Industries Masterclass programme that will be taught by a collective of diverse multicultural industry experts and masters to help the next generation.
Please use the link to find out more about the great work that goes on!
DeMontage: What do you feel is the most powerful change you have made within the fashion industry and to the young people you have worked with? Can you give an example?
Radha Singh:
Leadership - Being a woman of Indian Sikh heritage has been a journey with a lot of challenges. To be a woman of colour and take on a leadership role in the creative industries brings many hurdles that you have to jump over to be respected and understood in sectors that are male-dominated. ‘Be a leader and not a follower’ is my positive mantra that gives me strength each day. This helps me to look forward and not back.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) - I specialise in ‘narrative art’ and aim to evoke emotions and ignite imaginations, through this I aim to to make people feel strong, empowered and for them to embrace their own individuality. My designs have been worn by models from many multicultural backgrounds, disabled people and models of different sizes. It is a wonderful feeling to have so much positive feedback around this.
Representing the North of England - I was born in North Yorkshire and I represent not just the area, but also the creative talent that comes from here. I found that since working in the creative and fashion industry there hasn’t been enough representation in the different sectors. I have made this one of my missions to change and to champion the creative artists and entrepreneurs that we have here in North Yorkshire and help open doors for them and to build industry connections so they can also establish a career in the industry. Young people from the north are always so surprised that I am from the area, it makes them feel positive that you can be talented and establish yourself in industry no matter where you live, you have just got to believe and see within.
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