A graduate of the world-famous Contour Fashion course at De 天美传媒 University Leicester (DMU) has been wowing big-name stars with her lingerie-inspired designs.
A-list celebrities such as supermodel Bella Hadid, Love Island presenter Maya Jama, and double-platinum American rapper Latto, have all been photographed wearing outfits created by DMU-trained designer Isobel Dibrowa for her Leicester-based label, EMRLD.
Isobel graduated in 2017 from DMU’s renowned Contour Fashion BA which specialises in intimate apparel such as lingerie and swimwear.
After leaving DMU, Isobel worked in the fashion industry including as a pattern cutter supplying several well-known brands. She was deeply unimpressed by what she saw, not only for the poor quality of the throw-away, fast fashion, but also for the labour conditions she witnessed.
Isobel began thinking about making her own designs and owning her own label while still studying at DMU, but it was not until the Covid lockdowns of 2020, that she took the bold step of founding her own company. Drawing on her own middle name, Emerald, for inspiration, she called it EMRLD.
Using the skills she learned on the Contour course, as well as in industry, and staying true to the sustainable ethos of DMU’s Fashion and Textiles department, Isobel created EMRLD’s range of lingerie-inspired women’s day wear, which are now handmade in her Leicester studio.
Since then a string or A-list celebrities have chosen to wear her creations, including ‘catwalk queen’ Bella Hadid who earlier this year chose to wear EMRLD’s Pearl Pink Scrunchie set for a special photo shoot and YouTube video to mark the first birthday of her fragrance line, Orebella.
Before that, Love Island TV presenter and radio DJ Maya Jama was snapped at her 29th birthday party in Ibiza wearing EMRLD’s Tutti Frutti set, causing the company to sell out of the line almost instantly.
Shortly afterwards, American rap artist, and former winner of The Rap Game USA, was also spotted wearing the Tutti Frutti outfit for a series of pics on her Instagram feed.
“I’m heavily influenced by what I learned on the Contour course, even down to the fabrics I use,” said Isobel, who went on to explain that a Nottingham-based company that she first encountered as a supplier to the DMU Contour course, now provides around half of the specialist fabrics from which she makes the lingerie-inspired creations that she describes as “timeless party wear, designed for the conscious consumer.”
“I always knew I wanted to design, but it was the course that got me interested in pattern cutting and the technical side of things,” said Isobel. “It was also really helpful having access all the machinery, and I now own two of the same machines that I used at DMU, so it was really useful.”
EMRLD currently consists of Isobel plus one employee, a full-time machinist. But she has plans to expand and has approached the DMU Champions program to potentially recruit a graduate intern to help with marketing and social media.
To see more of Isobeel's designs go to
DMU’s renowned Contour Fashion BA (hons) course combines heritage, innovation and technical excellence and is widely regarded by industry experts as one of the world's best degrees dedicated to the design of intimate apparel.
Posted on Wednesday 14 May 2025