Great Yorkshire shows it’s ahead of the game in style and fashion

Up-and-coming designers will be rubbing shoulders with the established elite when they present their collections on the catwalk at England’s premier agricultural and rural showcase.

More than 135,000 visitors are expected to flock to the Great Yorkshire Show when it opens its gates in Harrogate from Tuesday to Thursday July 8-10 for the 156th event.

Many of those thousands of visitors will jostle for the highly-prized front row seats in the popular Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion, which plays host to four-times daily fashion shows during each of the three days.

Luxury lingerie and swimwear retailer Rigby and Peller, which opened its first north of England store in Harrogate earlier in the year, has given the event its Royal seal of approval.

The boutique, which holds a Royal warrant, will be presenting colourful swimwear, sarongs and cover-ups on the catwalk at the Great Yorkshire Show for the first time.

Also making its Great Yorkshire Show debut will be internationally acclaimed countrywear specialist Barbour, which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.

Having teamed up with Boroughbridge-based artist Julie Dodsworth, the company, renowned for defining the essence of true British style, will be unveiling its new autumn/winter collection to show visitors.

Great Yorkshire Show director Bill Cowling is delighted with the line-up for this year’s runway.

“Some of the most famous names in the fashion business began their careers locally, for example Christopher Bailey, creative director and CEO of Burberry and international designer Bruce Oldfield,” said Mr Cowling. “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,” he added.

Cleckheaton-based fashion wholesaler Alexia Designs, renowned for its stunning occasion-wear clothing, will be bringing a touch of glamour to the catwalk with its selection of dramatic prom dresses.

And it’s not just about well-known high-street names – the Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion is coveted by up-and-coming designers from across the region who vie for the opportunity to present their collections in front of the

fashion-loving show visitors.

Once again, students from Harrogate College of Art and Design and Northallerton College will be unveiling stunning, one-off pieces guaranteed to turn heads.

The talented Harrogate students have been busy putting the finishing touches to their collections in time for the event – designs hitting the catwalk include a dip-dyed silk evening dress created by BA (Hons) Fashion final year student Samantha Henty and mother-of-four Thekla Hall’s upcycled gown created with

men’s shirts and ties.

Students from Hull College of Art and Design and Doncaster College have been invited onto the catwalk this year – all three Hull students’ dramatic bridal outfits, including a funky satin strappy dress with peplum, designed by Alicia Emsley of Cleckheaton, were shortlisted in the 2013 Bridal Buyers Awards.

Keighley-based menswear brand Brook Taverner is back, showcasing its current collection as well as unveiling its new autumn/winter collection featuring Moons fabric woven in Yorkshire while high-street retailer Hobbs is also making a welcome return to the catwalk at the show.

Mr Cowling said: “The catwalk 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.”

CREDITS:

Shot on location at Leeds Industrial Museum, once the world’s largest woolen mill.

Photos by Doug Jackson Photography

Hair and Make Up : Bradford College

Models provided by the Kirklees and Calderdale-based fashion agency Morton Gledhill, The Fashion Team.

COVER SHOT: ALEXIA DESIGNS (www.alexiadesigns.com) L to R: Clare wears Blush Prom (style 9800) Powder Blue/Nude dress with clear stones and crystals across a choker, low open back and sheer vertical inserts in skirt, Emily wears (style 9723) Coral Pink dress with elegant jewelled neckline flowing from the sheer panel and across the bust, Charlotte wears (style 9771) a one-shoulder Sapphire dress with shiny circular stones in a geometric pattern and beautiful open back

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