They could be the next Bruce Oldfield, Stella McCartney or Christopher Bailey of Burberry.

These are the six finalists for Fashion Idol 2008, the annual search for potentially world-class fashion designers, the winner of which will be announced on the last day of the Great Yorkshire Show on July 10.

Yorkshire's colleges and universities are bursting with fashion talent, sending out some of the UK's best skilled and creative designers to work for clothing companies and design houses throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Launched two years ago, the Fashion Idol winner will be offered a place for up to 12 months in the prestigious Textile Centre of Excellence's Design Incubation Unit in Huddersfield, where their new business will be nurtured and promoted.

The brief: as the Great Yorkshire Show is celebrating its 150th year, the judges – Jill Adams of Harvey Nichols Leeds, garden designer Carl Wilde, Bernadette Gledhill of model agency Louise Morton, Sue Taylor of the Textile Centre for Excellence at Huddersfield, and I – were looking for a design that was inspired by one of the decades of the show, with commercial potential to be manufactured in bulk, and easily translated from design concept to final garment.

Six finalists were chosen from the submitted entries and their paper designs were made up into clothes by the Textile Centre for Excellence.

All can be seen on the catwalk in the Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion at this year's Great Yorkshire Show (July 8-10).

Also on the catwalk will be the autumn/winter collection from ethical and vegetarian sheep label Izzy Lane, based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, which uses the wool of rescued sheep, and the launch of a new range of clothing called H@tch, from the Huddersfield Textile Centre of Excellence.


Hannah Custance, 20, from Northamptonshire

... is studying fashion and manufacturing at Huddersfield University. Her design – a printed, asymmetric tiered dress with cropped waistcoat, was inspired by the 1970s, especially Laura Ashley's milkmaid dress, and by the painter Ashley Jackson, combining bright greens with soft slate greys.

"I wanted to create a fresh, young summer outfit that shouts outdoors and nature, combined with style and originality," she said. "I love making clothes and want to design ladieswear."


Sally Osborn, 24, from Leeds

... is studying at the Leeds College of Art and Design, and also has a law degree and works as a paralegal. She calls her design Jazz Rebel and has come up with a 1920s inspired drop-waist dress with drape front and wrap back. "It's for ages 25 to late 30s, perhaps for a wedding or a party," she said. She wants to start her own label, and would welcome the expertise afforded by the Textile Centre training.


Charlotte Lucy Barker, 21, from Malton

... is studying fashion at York College. She has called her figure-hugging design Beginner's Luck, and says it is inspired by jockeys, dressage and rock 'n' roll, combined with Ladies' Day at the races. It was tailored panels from the waist to create volume, and has a concealed zip at the back to make it easier to get into. "I love making my own stuff and I'd really like a job in tailoring," she said.


Hayley Foster, 27, from Shipley

... already runs her own couture fashion business from her home in Shipley (it's called Hayley Elizabeth Couture) and has a degree in fashion from the Leeds College of Art and Design. "The dress was inspired by farmers' wives' summer dresses and pinnies as they made their cream teas and scones," she said, adding that she was first struck by the idea when she spotted the Great Yorkshire Show tearoom ladies last year. She would like to build up her own name range.



Rebecca Byers, 19, from Harrogate

... trained at Harrogate College. "I found the inspiration for my design by looking into the old Yorkshire riding style with jodhpurs and farmers' flat caps, using a colour scheme of earthy tones. I wanted to give a feminine but classy style," she said. The waistband is easily detachable and can be worn with jeans, skirts and so on. Rebecca aims to study fashion further at university.


Ryan Heard, 23, from Manchester

... studied at Huddersfield University and has his own menswear label called Ventriloquist. He was inspired for his design by men's clothes from the Victorian era, the Russian Revolution and coal mining. "I wanted a rugged, industrial look," he said. "And I wanted it to be unique but not too expensive. The fine cotton shirt has a granddad collar, and deep cuff with tiny buttons, and the bomber jacket has trench coat style detailing."