NORTHUMBRIA University students will showcase their colourful collections at the annual Fashion Show today.

This year's sell-out fashion show will be held at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art on Tuesday 14 May.

For those attending, it will be a chance to preview the collections of final year students before they head down to London to compete for fashion's highest accolades at Graduate Fashion Week in June.

Included among the students presenting their designs are Eleanor Layton from Darlington and Lydia Mellor, from York.

Womenswear designer Eleanor Layton, 21, has created a minimalistic collection called 'Refine'.

The collection features stormy shades of navy and dark maroon leather contrasted with bold duck egg blue textured knitwear.

Eleanor, who has had work experience at Justin Davis in Sydney, Australia, said: "With a love of clean lines and design understatement, I found the starting point of my collection by referencing the minimalistic fashions of the 1960s.

The challenge of taking inspiration from a concept and reducing it to its simplest form is what appeals to me as a designer."

Lydia Mellor's womenswear collection is called 'Dazzling Disguise' and takes influences from the camouflage technique of 'dazzle ships' used during WW1 and merges it with a 1940s feel, inspired by Ingrid Bergman's wardrobe in the film 'Casablanca'.

The 21-year-old, originally from York, said: "I've fused crepe, wool and tweeds with contemporary cloths, such as leather, neoprene and organza, to create a modern twist. I aim to display craftsmanship within each garment and create a sophisticated collection with a bold use of colour and innovative construction."

Established more than 50 years ago, fashion at Northumbria is internationally recognised for producing innovative and hands-on designers.
Graduates are now working for high profile companies including Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Abercrombie & Fitch and ESCADA.