Show Stoppers

Fashion has become a star attraction at the Great Yorkshire Show, with new takes on countrywear very much the main focus, and many leading designers, retailers and fashion graduates are keen to take part so they can show their creations to this specialist but style-hungry audience.

This year designer Fiona Greene has been given the honour of debuting her first womenswear collection at the Skipton Building Society Fashion Pavilion. Fiona, 29, has so far worked mainly in menswear, with her bespoke suiting company Greene & Clark, which she runs with her husband, Tim.

For her womenswear, there's a strong equestrian influence, hardly surprising as she has been a keen horsewoman since childhood. Having trained as a clothier for a global tailoring firm, she and Tim set up Greene & Clark in 2005 and now have around 150 clients in the Sheffield area, using local tailors to create bespoke suits. Last year Fiona, who has a studio in Harrogate, made herself a long jacket for a Boxing Day meet, and found she was attracting attention from women wanting to know where it was from.

In September last year, she won a Sheffield Fashion Week competition, with the prize to create a 10-piece collection for 2010. The cloth has been provided by firms including Holland & Sherry, Bateman & Ogden and Johnstons of Elgin, and the Great Yorkshire Show will see its first official launch, with fabulous headwear from Hats by Sherry, all shown here in our shoot, which took place at the farm of Fiona's mother-in-law Sue Clark, who loans out animals for TV, film and photography work.

"My collection developed from clothes that I like to wear," she says. "They are equestrian with a Victorian feeling, nipped in at the waist and flared at the hip. They are all one-offs."

Also on the catwalk will be collections from Sheffield-based Elizabeth Edwards, who specialises in producing unique garments from organic/recycled and vintage fabrics; inspirational knitwear from Makepiece of Todmorden, all produced from local sheep; some fabulous prom dresses from Huddersfield-based designer Kevan Jon, and collections from young student and graduate designers including menswear from Huddersfield University, and sportswear from Bradford College.

The shows run at the Great Yorkshire Show next Tuesday to Thursday at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30 and 4pm, organised by the Morton Gledhill Fashion Team. On Wednesday at the 2.30 show, several Olympic Yorkshire hopefuls will take to the catwalk.

Fiona Greene will be at stand 116 and there will be a 20 per cent discount for all orders made at the show.