CUTTING edge fashion is being celebrated in the region as top designers and manufacturers showcase their work during the first ever Yorkshire Fashion Week.The region's fashion and textiles industry contributes almost £900m to the UK economy each year and organisers hope the event will inspire new talent and encourage more students to study the subject.
Huddersfield's Textile Centre of Excellence is spearheading the affair, supported by Yorkshire Forward, Welcome to Yorkshire, Skillfast-UK and Kirklees Council. The Yorkshire Post is a media partner.
The week will culminate on Friday with a catwalk show and an exhibition celebrating the technical skills which lie behind the fashion industry during a special gala evening at the Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield.
Bill Macbeth, managing director at the Textile Centre of Excellence, said: "The event on Friday is shaping up beyond our wildest dreams. There is a huge amount of interest in us and we've just about sold all the tickets."
Yorkshire's textiles are famous around the globe. The world's most expensive suit at £70,000 was made last year using cloth from the Scabal Mill, at New Mill, near Huddersfield.
Much of Scabal's business is done with Hollywood film studios and Tom Cruise, Daniel Craig, David Beckham and US President George Bush have worn their fabrics which can also be seen in films like Casino Royale, Men in Black and Titanic.
Mr Macbeth said: "In our region we still make the best quality cloth in the world and the textile industry is tremendously important.
"We can't compete at the bottom end of the market but nobody can beat us on quality and skill at the top end.
"All the major fashion houses in the world, including Chanel, Dolce and Gabana, and Hugo Boss, use cloth from Yorkshire because the quality and performance of the fabric cannot be beaten."
There are over 35,000 people employed in the industry in Yorkshire and the Humber, including those who are self employed and sole traders, and about 7,000 businesses.
Three-quarters of those people work in West Yorkshire, reflecting the county's strong traditions in wool textiles and clothing. Kirklees has the highest level of sector employment of any district in the UK, whilst Bradford and Leeds are also both ranked among the top five districts.
Mr Macbeth said: "The industry is doing ok at the moment and people are still paying top dollar for the quality."
He added: "The recession in the Eighties was caused by crazy consumer spending and people reacted by getting rid of flash things. This time around it's not about excessive consumerism and shoppers know that.
"People still have a great appetite for fashion. Young guys still want the brands and women want to follow the fashion. Consumers don't feel like the recession is their fault. This event is hugely important because it celebrates the talent and expertise in our region." Mr Macbeth hopes Yorkshire Fashion Week will become a regular feature in the calendar.
This week's highlights include a collection from one of the country's leading clothes designers, Betty Jackson, alongside work from new designers.
The event is also supported by fashion shows at universities and colleges around the region.
Terry Hodgkinson, chairman of Yorkshire Forward, said: "Our region has a history of textile innovation and today Yorkshire-based fashion and textile manufacturers supply more than 20 other industry sectors with products including the aerospace, medical and construction industries, which is why it is vital to Yorkshire and Humber's economy."
