FASHION designer Henry Holland may now live hundreds of miles away in London, but he will always call Edenfield his home.

The 28-year-old believes his roots have influenced his creations, starting from the popular T-shirts with slogans which launched his career.

He told our sister paper the Bury Times: “Being from the North means there is a sense of humour and a sensibility to what I do that is very northern.

"We are very tongue-in-cheek and self-effacing. The feel of my clothes and the sense of humour behind them reflect that.”

A former pupil at Edenfield Primary School and Bury Grammar School, Henry was always in a rush to leave the area.

He said: “From being about 13 years old, at home in Edenfield, I was always plotting how to get to London and get a job here.

"It was always my plan. I never envisaged I would be doing what I do now, though.

“It’s difficult to get time to come back home because I travel a lot, but I will always have a connection with where I grew up.

"My mum lives in France now but she still has a flat in Ramsbottom and my dad lives in Edenfield.”

Henry left Edenfield to study journalism at the London College Of Printing, before being catapulted into the fashion limelight in 2006 with his slogan T-shirts.

House Of Holland held its first solo show on the main Fashion Week schedule in 2008 to critical acclaim and his brand is now firmly established on the international scene.

Last year, Henry was welcomed as the newest fashion designer at Debenhams, with the H! By Henry Holland collection bringing the brand to the high street.

The range consists of fashion pieces which carry Henry’s signature bold prints and bright colours, as well as exclusive bags and accessories.

His new collection for autumn and winter 2011 has arrived in Debenhams in the last few weeks and Henry appears in new television adverts to promote it.

The Debenhams adverts each open with a designer in the studio, adding the finishing touches to a garment.

The scene then shifts to the outfits being worn in real-life situations.

The campaign, named Life Made Fabulous, aims to show how accessible designer fashion can be.

The adverts were first shown on television last week and will run until Christmas.

While Henry designs with a “London girl aesthetic” in mind, he still thinks about the people from his home town who are wearing his clothes.

He said: “I have been sent picture messages from people I went to school with showing my clothes in Debenhams in Bury and I’ve been to see the collection there, as well as at the Trafford Centre.

“I’m always looking at the sales figures and hoping I’ll see those stores in the top 10.”