Kirsten Dunnett, Fashion Boutique OwnerBack to Dundee Ambassadors

22-year old Kirsten opened her fashion boutique Missy La La's in Dundee's city centre in June 2008. She is from Glenrothes in Fife.

Dundee has so much going for it. I used to visit the city lots as a kid, travelling through from Fife and always loved it. It's the same now - there's heaps going on and lots to see and do. I love coming in every day to work here.

The city's given me a fantastic opportunity. I studied business at Abertay and also Fashion and Business in Kirkcaldy and loved it. After finishing my course, I realised that there was a big gap in the market in terms of providing funky clothes for young women in Dundee, and started wondering why no-one else was doing it. I applied to the council and had to explain to them what my business could bring to the city. My application was successful and now my business is doing really well.

I feel fully accepted here. Dundonians really take you on. Although I'm not from the city I've been made to feel really welcome. I‘ve got lots of repeat customers - they come in and ask what I've got in this week or for help in finding an outfit for going out.  I go on their Bebo sites and they're talking about the shop online and linking into my website - it's brilliant!

The Dundee accent takes a while to figure out! Don't get me wrong - I like it but when people started talking to me, I didn't have a clue what they were on about! But it's just the banter you get and its makes the city and the people what they are.

There's a real buzz about the place. There are so many students and there's a whole youth culture here around the music, nightlife, fashion and art. It's great to have all these young people in the city - the energy they bring is really important.

So many customers say to me ‘this is what we've been wanting for ages'. I think people are looking something different from the usual high street offerings. Young women want to be creative, look different, be independent and my clothes offer them a chance to express themselves through the way they look. I think that reflects the city too - it's for people who want something a bit different.

It would be good to see Dundee embrace more independents. From the reaction I've had there definitely seems to be an appetite for small, independent shops who're doing their own thing. I think the city council could do even more to help smaller businesses get started and help make the market accessible to them. They did with me and now people are travelling from all over to come here and buy my clothes.