A bespoke tailor, whose clients include film stars and models, and the young inventor of a solar-powered fridge have been nominated for Women of the Year Awards.

Imtaz Khaliq and Emily Cummins will attend the glittering ceremony in London next month. Previous women honoured include Dame Vera Lynn, Baroness Margaret Thatcher and Jane Tomlinson.

Imtaz, 45, of Bradford started sewing dolls’ outfits as a child. She developed dressmaking skills at the former Buttershaw Upper School and did a clothing technology course at Jacob Kramer College in Leeds. At a student fashion show her menswear was snapped up by Coronation Street’s Pat Phoenix for her husband, Tony Booth. Today Imtaz is one of the UK’s top female bespoke tailors, with Michelle Pfieffer and TV weathergirl Sian Lloyd among her clients.

Imtaz ran a tailoring business on Manchester Road, Bradford, before studying at the London College of Fashion. She said her father’s style inspired her to specialise in tailored suits. “He was a dashing figure in cream suits,” said Imtaz.

Imtaz has appeared in The Times Top 20 Muslim Women Power List and been profiled on Radio 4’s Women’s Hour. Through her work on the Government’s Design In Education advisory board, she helps young designers.

Emily Cummins, 24, of Cross Hills was 15 when she developed her idea for a toothpaste dispenser for people with arthritis. She went on to invent a solar-powered fridge that stores medicines, and a water-carrying device for rural Africa.

As a child Emily was taught design and technology skills by her grandad, a retired engineer. She designed her toothpaste dispenser at South Craven School. Watching her other grandfather, who has arthritis, struggling to squeeze toothpaste out of a tube prompted Emily to design a dispenser with a pushing device. Turning her attention to villagers in rural Africa who walk miles to collect water, Emily designed a product enabling them to carry up to five containers.

She went on to design a fridge to store medicines and food and won several awards, including last year’s Barclays Woman of the Year Award.

“I see things and think, ‘there could be improvements there’,” said Emily.

“Children I work with in schools often have the best ideas.”

The Women of the Year Awards, on October 11, bring together women including stars of stage and screen, politicians, aid workers, entrepreneurs and unsung heroes, to celebrate their achievements. Four will receive special awards.

Previous attendees include Princess Diana, Janet Street-Porter, Tracey Emin and Vivienne Westwood.