Tonight presents a second chance to Nicola Lucas.Twenty-one years ago, the Kiwi was on her way to Bermuda to work as a nanny when she was offered a job as a patternmaker for high street brands in the UK.

She turned it down but never gave up on her dream. Aqua Designs, her collection of women’s and children’s wear, is part of the Bermuda Fashion Festival’s Local Designer Show.

“I kind of always wondered what could have been if I had taken the offer, but then I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have met my Bermudian husband, Ben,” Mrs Lucas said. “At the time, I wondered whether I was making the right decision, but I had already made the commitment to come to Bermuda and when I make a commitment, I follow through.”

She is one of seven local designers hoping their collection is strong enough to win a place in New York Fashion Week in September.

The 45-year-old launched Aqua Designs in 2001. The line then featured custom-designed wedding dresses and evening dresses that she sold at Cécile, the former high-end Front Street store.

Her focus changed to children’s wear after the birth of her own. However, the arrival of Cameron, 14, Rory, 12, and Callie, 9, made designing a little more difficult.

“My kids have been my main priority; I’ve been busy with them,” the stay-at-home mom said as she explained why she waited until the Bermuda Fashion Festival’s ninth year to participate.

“It wasn’t on my radar before. I knew about it, but I’ve been so busy with my kids. This year, somebody told me about it and then they sent me the information and invited me to submit.

“I work when I can. Sometimes it is early in the morning or late at night and, much to my family’s disappointment, most weekends. Ben travels a lot for work so I have to work when I can, which is why it is handy having my workroom at home. It is also getting a lot easier now the kids are older and more independent.”

Fans of her clothes will see how her brand has developed, when it hits the catwalk at Number One Car Park tonight.

“People assume I’m only doing kids’ stuff at the fashion show. Hopefully, after [tonight], people will realise I’m not just about the kids’ stuff.”

The 14 pieces in her collection feature three prints designed by Mrs Lucas herself.

“One is a sunrise print I took from my house of the sunrise over Five Star Island,” she said. “I also designed two other Bermudian-themed prints and co-ordinated them together. I prefer natural fabrics for their breathability — silk and cotton will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I also love the way natural fabrics, especially silk, flow and work in a garment.

“My collection has really bright colours; really Bermuda colours. It’s resort wear with a few evening pieces. Long dresses you can wear to a barbecue or wear out in the evening and other pieces you can wear anywhere — to work, out to dinner. They’re comfortable, elegant, bright and happy pieces.”

The collection also includes a nod to her native New Zealand.

“Bermuda’s very similar to New Zealand in a lot of ways — there’s a lot going on outdoors, there’s the whole island theme — it just gets a lot colder. There is one dress in my collection that originally was designed for a competition in New Zealand many years ago. I’ve put a big hibiscus on it so it’s a combination of my old home and my new home.”

American fashion designer Ken Laurence has been her mentor for the past four months. Her hope is that the “great advice” she has received will help move her towards her ultimate goal.

“He was great, especially at the beginning when I was first starting with a few different things,” she said. “I basically design and sew everything. Ideally, I would like someone else to help me do all that kind of stuff and then sell my collection to small boutiques or high-end department stores in the States. That is my dream.

“The only international sales I’ve had so far have come from friends who live overseas and I guess people who come here and buy, but I’ve not sold anything to boutiques or things like that.”

Although she is happy with the finished product, Mrs Lucas admitted to being “very nervous” about how it will be received.

“I’m very anxious about how everything’s going to go; how everything’s going to look and the reaction it will get.

“My family and friends who have seen it have been very reassuring, but I’m still nervous.

“I did one show when I was in design school in my early 20s. It’s the only show I’ve ever done before and it had six pieces. Now I have 14.

“I’ve got some great models and am really excited about how all my models look in my designs. I just can’t wait to see them in them with their hair and make-up all together.”

• Look for Aqua Designs at aquadesignsbermuda.com. You can also find Nicola Lucas’s collection on Facebook, aquadesignsbermuda, and Instagram, aquadesignsbda. The Bermuda Fashion Festival finishes tomorrow night. Tickets and details of individual events are available on ptix.bm/bff