Great Yorkshire Show 2023 fashion show model competition winners prepare for the catwalk

More than 70 people, from teenagers through to 60-somethings, applied from across Yorkshire and the UK to take part in the return of the Great Yorkshire Show’s much-loved catwalk event. Almost all were from farming and rural communities or had links to agriculture.

Co-ordinator Bernadette Gledhill said: “We’ve really struck a chord, and across all ages and backgrounds – from sheep farmers to gamekeepers to dancers and a fitness expert. What they all have in common is a link with farming and love of the countryside.

“In the past, well-known personalities such as Anita Rani, singer Lizzie Jones, paralympian Hannah Cockroft and Yorkshire vets Julian Norton and Peter Wright have taken part alongside our professional models, so it’s wonderful that this year there’s a new element with the would-be models taking part.”

It was a tough job but Bernadette and her team selected 12 new faces to take part in the From Sheep to Chic daily fashion shows which will focus on luxury and designer clothes made using British wool.

The amateur models are now looking forward to wearing collections from several leading Yorkshire-based designers and retailers, joining a team of professional models on the runway, which has an unusual new location for 2023. Charles Mills, show director, said: “The new venue for the shows could not be more appropriate. For the first time they will be held on the stage in the sheep shearing area, next to more than 2,000 sheep which will be shown in the competitive classes.”

Skipton-based knitwear designer Joan Murray will be showing her designs at the show and brought several of her signature fluid and ethereal dresses along for a pre-show fashion shoot staged at the Great Yorkshire Showground to bring the newbie models together for the first time.

“It’s great having wool as a main focus, that’s what I’m really enjoying,” Joan said, adding: “All of my work is with biodegradable wool.”

Designer Mary Benson will also be showcasing her work at the show, including a beautiful dress made with Abraham Moon tweed. “We had to sample things a little bit, to make sure that the tweeds work with the shapes I usually use - I usually do bridal and special occasion wear - but it works really well,” she said. “I love it. I will definitely be using tweed from now on.

Originally from Seacroft in Leeds, Mary began making bags and bows while still at school. She first appeared on the Yorkshire Post’s fashion pages in 2008 when she and seven friends at Leeds College of Art (now Leeds Arts University) launched a collaborative pop-up at Clarence Dock called Pieces of Eight, after taking part in BBC TV’s Mary Queen of Shops show with Mary Portas.

In 2009, she made her debut at the Great Yorkshire Show and moved to London for her Fashion Design BA at the University of Westminster, interning with Alexander McQueen. She has shown at London and Paris and collaborated with footwear designer Terry de Havilland, milliner Stephen Jones, Asos and more. Her designs have been worn by Little Mix, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding and Paloma Faith among many other artists and celebrities.

Mary said: “We moved back two years ago, and now live in York, so it’s good to be home and part of the show.”

Keighley-based international menswear brand Brook Taverner provided super-stylish tailoring for the shoot and will also do so for the fashion show itself. Jack Dickety said: “We have been working alongside the team here for many years and are glad to be sponsoring it this year, and making everyone look great.”

Also taking part is Thirsk-based Galijah, which makes bespoke tailored tweeds in bright shades using Yorkshire wool, and the organisation British Wool, which promotes UK wool-made products, bringing to the shoot knitwear from brands including Dales-based Glencroft, Wensleydale Longwool, Mars Knitwear, Peregrine and Harris Tweed.

Marketing assistant Louisa Knapp said: “We are highlighting the companies using genuine British wool with the shepherd’s crook mark. Most of our clip is used for going into apparel - it’s perfect for outerwear, it’s very hard wearing - but, as you can see, you can get a real vibrancy, which a lot of people are surprised at from British wool.”

Nick Hancock is hosting the show. “We've got some fantastic models, great clothes and always a brilliant atmosphere,” he said.

The new models joined professional models, mother and daughter Suzanne and Niamh Woodhouse, for a session in hair and make-up with a team from the White Rose Hair & Beauty College in Harrogate.

Model winner Louisa Holstead, a keen rider and a member of Pontefract Young Farmers, said she had very much enjoyed the pre-show fashion shoot with photographer Kate Mallender. “It was great fun,” she said. ”It’s the first time I’ve done anything like this so I was a bit nervous but everyone was so friendly and it was good to meet all the other models.”

• The Great Yorkshire Show runs from Tuesday, July 11, to Friday, July 14. Tickets cost £32 for adults, £13 for children and £80 for families at greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/ticket-information
• The Sheep to Chic fashion shows take place daily at 12.30pm on the Sheep Shearing Stage, which is next to Brown Gate at the Great Yorkshire Showground.
• Look out for more pictures of the winners in the Yorkshire Post Magazine. For the Yorkshire Lifestyle newsletter, click here.