London fashion week starts today and Australians showing on the runways include Josh Goot. Working in London is a dream for so many people starting out in the fashion industry. Even in an economic down-turn creativity booms and dedication is rewarded. In this series of interviews with Australians working in different areas of the London fashion industry, you'll gain an insight into what it's really like to work in the big city.

First up, we chatted with fashion designer Brooke Roberts. Next in the series, we'll visit a visual merchandiser and a PR and marketing executive.

TheVine: So Brooke Roberts, what do you get up to in London?
Roberts: Well, I'm a fashion designer with my own label...and i moonlight as a  
Radiographer a couple of days or nights a week; which is entertaining and hellish all at once.

TheVine: What is an average day is like for you?

Roberts: My day is generally rammed. It starts at about 8.30am - I check my emails on my iPhone before I get up. I live at my studio, so after a coffee I get get straight into planning the day for my Interns Marta and Yasemin, who arrive at 10am. We work on patterns then cut and sew the toiles (mock-up garments). 

Our model, Sycha, comes in and we fit and amend the toiles to achieve to right look and fit. I analyse the designs - everyone gets to throw in their 2 cents worth!- and I decide what's working and what to change. This is the fun bit - where you see the collection taking shape and evolving.

I zip down the road to see Aziz at the sample factory. I check on developments and pick up finished garments. 'SS10  collection is looking gorgeous!' I tweet. I'm a twaddict. Everything's in slow-mo' at the factory because of Ramadan. I'm getting nervous about meeting the London Fashion Week deadline.

I answer emails from the denim factory in Spain and the leather factory in India while in transit (thank the I.T. Gods for iPhones)  If I don't follow-up immediately the pieces won't arrive before LFW. Frightful!

I meet David, my business mentor in Brick Lane to go over my cash flow (eek), sales and press. I show him my new season samples and discuss digital prints -  expensive and tricky. **back to the studio via the bagel shop**

I call Chris Edwards (jewellery designer) to run through the prototype development. He emails me photos of the rings and necklaces **mental note - email these to Susie Bubble**  This reminds me to email my stylist Nirave. She's due back from Spain to style the lookbook. I email Emma, the photographer about dates for the shoot. Then it's more emails from India - the bags mock-ups are totally wrong. Nightmare!

I check toile developments with Yasemin and Marta before they leave at 7pm.

Laura, Creative Director of 'WHERE fashion' and shoe designer pops in to review the bag mock-ups from India. We send through our ammendments to the factory and cross our fingers, toes, legs etc. for gorgeous bags in return. Laura's studio is near mine, so we often have a goss - it's a break from our silly workloads.

Then I continue pattern-cutting and design development so Marta and Yasemin have work for the next day **about 10.30pm I have dinner - my boyf. often cooks yummy Nigerian food for me. Spicy! **

I scan through my favourite blogs (Stylelines, Stylebubble, Kingdom of Style, Disconaplondon) and check Drapers and BoF before a final email check. Then bed - usually around 1.30. In fact, it's 1.39 already!

TheVine: How did you get your job?

Roberts: I studied fashion design and pattern-cutting at London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins; then worked as a pattern-cutter for Giles and Louise Goldin. I learnt how they built their labels, then started my own.... And still messed it up! Just joking. It's actually going better than I could ever have imagined.

TheVine: What qualifications and experience did you have before you went over there?

Roberts: I did my Applied Science Degree at Sydney Uni, then worked as a radiographer for a year. I didn't study fashion until I came to London.. I realised I wanted a career in fashion after living here for a couple of years.

TheVine: What are the difficulties, joys, payoffs, challenges in being an Aussie working in London?

Roberts: There are huge opportunities in the Fashion Industry in London due to Fashion Week, being part of Europe and the awesome melting pot of inspiring and talented people. I think this is driven by all the Art and Fashion colleges.

One down-side is it's incredibly expensive living and starting a business in London. It's also very competitive - which is tough, but means standards are high. Emerging London Designers tend to have to learn to make incredibly beautiful collections on shoe-string budgets. I think it breeds motivation, determination and excellence. There are brilliant platforms for young designers in London, like Vauxhall Fashion Scout, On/Off and Topshop New Gen which showcase and support emerging labels.

It's hard being so far from Australia and missing family get-togethers, friends' parties and weddings. It sometimes feels like a big price to pay for following a dream.