Fashion designers of the future will be showcasing their cool collections at a sizzling summer charity catwalk event next week.
Students from the University of Ulster and Belfast Metropolitan College join forces to stage a style spectacular at the historic Clandeboye Estate in Bangor on Tuesday August 20.
The fashion show is being held as part of the week-long Camerata Ireland/Clandeboye Festival which is in its eleventh year.
Ulster’s Course Director for Textiles and Fashion, Alison Gault, said the students would be displaying an outstanding wealth of workmanship and creativity.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our diverse and highly talented young people to showcase their level of creativity and the commercial designs they have worked on over the past year,” she added.
“They have selected key pieces from their collections which will reflect the outstanding talent of these up-and-coming new designers poised for a career in fashion.
“The event also gives the University of Ulster an opportunity to celebrate its first class students and offers the public a chance to buy bespoke garments or commission stunning one-off pieces.”
Five finalists from the Wedding Journal “Design a Wedding Dress” competition will also be exhibiting their sensational creations and three of the successful students are from the University of Ulster.
“We are delighted that Dzjulia Sokele, Grainne McKee and Jenna Mulligan are currently studying on the BA (Hons) Textile Art, Design and Fashion Course,” said Alison.
“The competition was open to students studying fashion design throughout the whole of Ireland, so to have three University of Ulster finalists is quite a coup and reinforces their skills as emerging fashion designers.”
The fashion extravaganza is produced and organised by Maureen Martin Model Management and will be interlaced with a selection of chamber music played by a team of international artists and young musicians under the direction of Barry Douglas.
The first model takes to the catwalk at 8.30pm and everyone who attends will receive a generous Clarins goodie bag. Tickets priced at £15 are available from the box office, phone 028 90241919 or visit www.goh.co.uk/whatson/ClandFest.aspx
The Clandeboye Festival runs from August 19 – 24 and was founded in 2002 by renowned Belfast-born pianist and conductor Barry Douglas, who has performed there every year since.
Although a music based event attracting worldwide participation, the festival also aims to celebrate the best that Northern Ireland has to offer. This year local singers and musicians will be joined by leading talent in areas such as drama and cookery.