A FASHION designer who grew up in Wellington has spoken of the “surreal experience” of appearing in a new upcoming ITV1 series.

Daylan Mollentze is one of 10 contestants to appear in M&S: Dress the Nation, with the first of six episodes being aired this evening.

He discovered the opportunity to take part in the show on social media platform, Instagram, before being selected for the show after an audition process.

Daylan said: “It was a surreal experience to talk about my past and everything that influenced my fashion development.”

Now based in East London, Daylan moved from Zimbabwe at the age of eight to Wellington in 2002.

“During college I started working at Waitrose when it very first opened. I spent four years working on the meat and fish counter and it was where I was exposed to my favourite brand for the first time, Mulberry,” he said.

Daylan is the founder of Buiseid, using waste to create luxury garments such as material off-cuts or second-hand items.

He said: “I moved to London at 20 to study fashion design at the University of East London.

“At the end of my second year, I started to freelance as a pattern cutter and sewing machinist.”

On his website the designer describes himself as: “Just a guy making stuff from bits and bobs that he finds in scrap bins and charity shops in his East London studio.”

M&S: Dress The Nation is hosted by Vernon Kay and AJ Odudu and features ten of “Britain’s best amateur clothes designers” as they compete for the opportunity to work as a designer for the high street chain.

The premiere took place last week in the private cinema of a “gorgeous” London hotel.

Daylan said: “The premiere was the first time all of us contestants were together since filming, so we had a lot of shared emotions.”

The series spans six weeks in which the designers face several challenges to produce unique outfits.

In the show’s first episode, the contestants will work to create clothing for Womenswear Week ready to face their hosts alongside guest judge Mel B.

Episode one is airing tonight (Tuesday, September 17) at 8pm on ITV1.