Great Yorkshire Show-offs!

As the Great Yorkshire Show reveals the designers who will grace its fashion pavilion, Stephanie Smith joins the photo-shoot team.

Fashion might not be the first thought that springs to mind when considering the agricultural tour de force that is the Great Yorkshire Show. Pigs, tractors, horses and of course sheep shearing, but fashion?

But, actually, those who have never been to the show might be surprised to learn that fashion is a major part of the mix, increasingly so for a number of years, with a dedicated pavilion, sponsored by the Skipton Building Society, which provides a platform for an eclectic mix of designers from prestigious brands to up-and-coming graduates.

This year, fashions past, present and future collided to celebrate the stunning catwalk contribution to this year’s show, which will feature luxury lingerie fitters and retailers Rigby Peller, countrywear specialists Barbour, high end label Hobbs, Cleckheaton-based evening wear and wedding designer Alexia as well as collections by graduates from Hull and Harrogate.

Yorkshire has a proud and long-standing connection with fashion, and this was celebrated in the choice of venue for the preview shoot, Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills. It was once the world’s largest woollen mill and, as you can see from the pictures, has been beautifully preserved to tell the fascinating history of manufacturing in the city, with exhibits from as far back as the 18th century, recreated Victorian cottages and a waterwheel.

By 1838 there were 106 woollen mills in Leeds, employing 10,000 people and transforming it into a major city. Later Leeds was central to the growth of ready-made clothing, with companies that became household names, such as Burtons and Hepworths.

This was the atmospheric backdrop to the shoot, bringing together fashion heritage and fashion-forward design.

More than 135,000 visitors are expected to flock to the 156th Great Yorkshire Show when it opens its gates in Harrogate this July. Thousands attend the catwalk shows which take place fours time daily during each of the three days.

For the first time, lingerie and swimwear retailer Rigby and 
Peller, which opened its first north of England store in Harrogate earlier this year, has given the event its Royal warrant of approval, presenting swimwear, sarongs and cover-ups on the catwalk.

Also making its Great Yorkshire Show debut will be internationally acclaimed countrywear specialist Barbour, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary. The luxury label will present its collaborative collection with Boroughbridge-based artist Julie Dodsworth and also unveil its autumn/winter collection.

Fashion wholesaler Alexia Designs will show its occasionwear prom collection, while Keighley-based menswear brand Brook Taverner returns to showcase its current collection and preview its autumn/winter range featuring Moons’ fabric woven in Yorkshire.

Students from Harrogate College of Art and Design, Northallerton College, Hull College of Art and Design and Doncaster College have also been invited onto the catwalk this year (their designs will feature in a later issue)

“The fashion shows are always one of the highlights of the Great Yorkshire and apart from being an important part of the event, they enable us to highlight the importance of the textile industry and its links within the region,” said Great Yorkshire Show director Bill Cowling.

“The shows enable visitors to see the full cycle of production, from the sheep in the competitive classes, to the sheep shearing and wool production competitions, to the final designs on the runway.”

Twitter: @yorkshirefashQ

• The Great Yorkshire Show takes place in Harrogate from Tuesday, July 8 to Thursday, 10 July.

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A Bridal Blitz for the Fashionably Engaged

The words “bridal fashion show” sound like something your finally engaged aunt might drag you to at the other mall (you know, the one across town that no one goes to anymore). But let me dispel that mental association for you right now, because last night’s Engaged bridal fashion show was one of my favorite shows of the year.

Though a bit of fashion show fatigue has set in this week (Engaged was the seventh local show in the past month), the sleeper hit offered a full range of all things wedding style. Getting out of the sure-to-run-together slump of some shows with just gown followed by gown followed by gown, the producers brought in the full smorgasbord with bridal lingerie, headpieces, suits (for guys and gals), and of course, some jaw-dropping dresses.

• Sunjin Lee takes fairy princess-loving bride into the modern world with a more sophisticated take on silhouettes (a leather skirt and lace top? Count us in!), but maintains the sparkly bits for those that still want to feel like royalty.
• Duchess continues to impress with their takes on traditional suits, offering twists on patterns, ties, and even tailored suits for gals.
• Elizabeth Rohloff reminded the audience that really the dress is only part of the style equation with her gorgeous headpieces ranging from long 1920’s inspired lace pieces to fun 50’s fascinators.
• Before you put on the dress, you have to find the right lingerie. Lille Boutique offered a range of darling bra and panty sets in addition to some cozy robes for pre-wedding primping (and post-wedding lounging).
• The dynamic duo of young line Bad Wolf Clothier with their mod-era inspired suits (including one to-die for navy blue suit coat) paired perfectly with the vintage gowns from Eve in Eden.
• Finally, designer Sonia Kasperian of Urchin Redesign brought the fashion house down with her magical one of a kind gowns. Each is handmade from a variety of textiles to create stunning unusual gowns that could easily go far beyond the bridal realm. Not only would any bride be lucky to slip into one of these numbers, I predict it’s only a matter of time before the red carpet world comes calling.

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