The Lanarkshire-born designer was given a backstage bearhug by Sir Philip after yesterday's acclaimed show at London Fashion Week.

The super-rich retail boss, whose most recent coup was persuading the controversial model Kate Moss to design for the Topshop chain, announced his intention to take a closer interest in Kane's rocketing career.

"I want to sit down with him once all this is over and see what we can do to progress his brand to the next level", said Sir Philip. "I think there are many ways we can put more focus on his name and brand.We haven't set up a meeting yet but I'd like to see him as soon as next week."

Kane, 25, is already sponsored by Topshop and designs small collection for the high street chain. But winning the backing of Sir Philip could set the designer on the path to stardom.

"Kane's show was mindblowing," said Richard Gray, fashion features director of the style magazine 10. "To think that somebody so young could stage a show of the calibre is incredible. He has an incredibly good eye for reinvention and creating a sense of the new, which is what the multi-billion pound fashion industry is always looking for. That is what will have got Sir Philip's attention."

Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "It is wonderful to see talent such as Christopher's gaining increasing acclaim in the incredibly competitive world of fashion. He is one of a crop of Glaswegian designers who have been supported by Glasgow: Scotland with style at London Fashion Week."

Kane said yesterday his collection was inspired by the Virginia Woolf novel Orlando and Scottish actress Tilda Swinton's role in the film adaptation.

"I was intrigued by her transformation from masculine to feminine in the film, so the knits – which were made by Johnstons of Elgin in an ongoing collaboration that I'm very happy with – represented the darker, masculine side, while the floaty dresses showed the feminine aspect."

A spokesman for Kane could not confirm any new commercial deals.

UPS AND DOWNS OF DESIGN ICON
IT HAS been a rollercoaster few months for Christopher Kane, whose journey to success suffered a dramatic setback in September when 23 outfits and a laptop computer were stolen from his studio in east London.
It left the Motherwell-born designer with only days to recreate his collection in time for that month's fashion shows in London.

He has since been crowned Scotland's designer of the year and has created a series of outfits for Topshop.

While still a student at London's Central Saint Martins fashion school, Kane was talent-spotted by Donatella Versace. She hired him as a creative consultant and then sponsored his MA graduation show.

His sister, Tammy, five years his senior, has remained his mentor and creative partner and their careers have been entwined.

"Christopher is definitely the genius out of the two of us," she said. "But we have the same vision. I'm just a good help for him, because I have an opinion."