FOUR SAVVY Man Met undergraduates have swapped dissertations for entrepreneurship by setting up their own underwear company.
The Fashion Buying students are selling scores of their popular undergarments in city centre boutiques.
Managing director Charlotte Kearney was hoping to make it a double success by setting up a successful business and being crowned Miss Manchester 2008 next month.
The 21-year-old from Fallowfield is up against 39 other women in the final in May.
The underwear and top sets – which retail at £25 each – have bold slogans on them such as "History is her story too" and "Venus favours the bold".
The group of four set their company 'Undressed' up last September and began trading in January.
Coursemate Matthew Moxham said: "The slogans have been inspired by women throughout history, we've gone through a lot of feminist literature to come up with them.
"Big prints are the craze at the moment. The underwear is designed not necessarily to be seductive, but to empower women."
The group have enlisted Sian Lloyd-Jones, the stylist for Wayne Rooney, Coleen McLoughlin and the Hollyoaks cast, to help them set up their business.
Budding model Charlotte, originally from Belfast, is calling on the stylist to help her prepare for the Miss Manchester competition at the Palace Hotel on 1st May.
The talented undergraduate admitted she may want to go into the fashion business in the future, but wants to do some modelling after she finishes university.
"I've learnt a lot from setting up our company through university, marketing is something I've always wanted to do," she said.
"I'm hoping to do a bit of modelling next year and we've got the Miss Manchester competition coming up, after that I'm hoping to do a bit of work experience.
"We've had to make sacrifices this year with the company. Big nights out have sometimes had to go, but we have been enjoying it so much."
The 'Undressed' team are Charlotte Kearney, Matthew Moxham, Anna Temple and Sarah Martin.
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