TWO fashion designers are setting out their stall in the region's shopping capital.

Embelliss is moving from a workshop and studio in Darlington to Northumberland Street in Newcastle city centre.

It was set up three years ago by fashion graduates Anna Summerson, from West Auckland, Co Durham, and Alison Dunn, of Killingworth, North Tyneside.

The move will be a family affair, as parents lend a hand with the refurbishment of the new premises.

Anna said: "Obviously it's an expensive move for us so we have had to roll up our sleeves and do the work ourselves. It has taken us about 18 months to find somewhere affordable and suitable in the city so we were delighted when we found these premises."

Alison said: "At the same time as re-wiring, building fitting rooms, decorating and organising the fixtures and fittings we still have to keep supplying existing customers, so we are extremely busy."

They established the enterprise with funding from Business Link County Durham and The Prince's Trust, and went on to win the County Durham final of the Shell Livewire contest for best new business.

Originally, the pair sold their hand-made range of clothes over the Internet.

The name comes from the French to embellish or embroider. They specialise in beaded, painted and embroidered bodices, but also design and sell t-shirts, skirts, dresses and bags, aimed at women aged 19-32.

The shop will also be the first in the North-East to stock some of the latest and more original fashion labels from London, Los Angeles, New York and Australia.

For further details, visit the www.embelliss.com website