The economic downturn has proved a very difficult time for jobless graduates fresh out of university. But reporter DAN KEEL spoke to a 24-year-old fashionista from Woolwich who has beaten the recession with her high-end lingerie label.

FINDING a job in the current climate is an epic task.

Many employers will ask for six-page application forms with as many as four interviews before choosing the right person for the job.

On the other hand you could bypass the whole process and set-up your own business, and that's exactly what 24-year-old Maxine Wells has done with her new selection of handmade corsets and luxury underwear.

After completing a three-year degree in Contour Fashion, she began designing stylish pieces at her Woolwich studio in Warspite Road with the aim of selling her products to London boutiques.

She said: "I got to the point where I had come up with so many ideas and designs, that by the time I was ready to put my ideas to boutiques I thought why don't I just set up my own business.

"I had to aim at the high-end market as obviously I can't compete with the likes of Tesco. It is all about quality fabric and comfort in the lingerie and the corsetry. I want to make people look stylish."

And as you can see from our photos, she has done a very good job.

Not only has Maxine's lingerie been snapped up by the likes of chic lingerie boutique, Glamorous Amorous, but sales on her own website maxinesoflondon.com are booming.

But jumping straight from university into the world of business has not been without its difficulties.

She says finding the money and the right financial backing was a challenge but getting people to notice her work was even harder.

Maxine, who lives in Essex, also says her age and inexperience was an issue with some people struggling to take her seriously.

"I think in the end the pieces speak for themselves, people can see that it’s very specialist work", she said.

"And if you start off young you need a lot of confidence and quite a strong mind, and that shows people that you’re determined."

She added: "It was all quite scary at first but I know my business will build.

News Shopper: Hot stuff: Maxine says people struggled to take her seriously because of her age

"It’s not like a restaurant where you could just open the doors and it could crash, it takes time."

For Maxine, launching during a recession may prove to be an advantage. She is adamant she didn’t want to wait until the economy recovered.

She said: "If I’d have started a couple of years ago and started to grow, the recession would have really hit. But as a new start up I can take off as it starts to pick up."

Maxine was given help and support in setting up her label by the business advice service Business Link.

For more information, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/london or call 0845 6000 787.

For more fashion, visit newsshopper.co.uk/shoparound