Bristol designers in fashion show

Fashion lovers in Bristol were at the Living Room bar on Millennium Square to see a collection of clothes from local designers.

Five designers took part in the inaugural Project Designer fashion competition, which was won by Clifton-based Jean Walker.

Jean said that the dress, hand-made from taffeta silk dupion and white metal modern chain mail, was inspired by the young Bristol poet Thomas Chatterton, who died in 1770 at the young age of 17.

She said: "Chatterton did not like mercantile Bristol and tried to recreate a medieval Bristol through his poetry, so this dress was inspired by his words.

"It's great to win and it's so nice to be appreciated. I can't believe it actually because the other dresses were all so very good."

Jean's prize is the opportunity to showcase her work at the Bristol Fashion Show which takes place at the Clifton Lido on Saturday, May 16. Dancers from Ballet Bristol will be taking to the catwalk at the show.

One of the dancers, Emily Burke, 19, from Knowle, modelled Jean's winning dress. Emily, who is currently on a gap year between school and university, said that she had great fun, having only been asked to be a model at the last minute.

She said: "The dress is fantastic, it's so glamorous, I haven't worn anything like it before, it's wonderful."

Russell Lambard, Project Designer director, added: "It is so important to carry on the work of others in Bristol who have led the way in regard to showcasing the best in the world of fashion and design.

"However, often it is the talented young people that are just starting out and working at the grass roots level that have the hardest time getting recognised, so we have created an event that is aimed purely at showcasing new work."