New fashion collections are unveiled at the Great Yorkshire Show this month when at least 130,000 visitors are expected to make their way to the showground in Harrogate. It’s here the region’s leading fashion designers, as well as stars of the future, showcase their latest work.

Great British Life: Ben Davies wears Brook Tavener Harris jacket and waistcoat with moleskin jeans and Tasha Hussain wears a tweed Lexington wrap-style coat by Malton designer Charlotte LucyBen Davies wears Brook Tavener Harris jacket and waistcoat with moleskin jeans and Tasha Hussain wears a tweed Lexington wrap-style coat by Malton designer Charlotte Lucy (Image: Archant)

For Malton-based Charlotte Lucy, the opportunity to show her 2015 capsule collection on the catwalk marks a return to her design roots. The 27 year-old was a runner-up in a Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s fashion designer competition in 2008 held at the Great Yorkshire Show – and she’s been wanting to make her way back ever since. ‘I can’t wait to show my capsule collection, it’s such a great event to be involved with,’ says Charlotte, who studied fashion design at York College.

Designer James Steward, of James Steward Couture, Leeds is showcasing his eye-catching collections for the first time in Harrogate, with a number making their catwalk debut. James has strong Yorkshire roots – he comes from Beverley and then studied fashion at Hull College of Art and Design, before moving to Italy to work with a leading fashion house. James has had his own studio in Leeds for several years and has designed for a number of TV stars. Much of his womenswear will be complemented on the catwalk by milliner Beth Hirst’s head-turning creations. Beth and James are neighbours in the Farsley-based workshops. ‘I’m planning to be at the show every day, I’m really looking forward to it and to seeing my clothes on the catwalk,’ said James.

Show organisers have set second year fashion students at Hull College of Art and Design the challenge of creating collections with a Harrogate theme. The disappearance in 1926, of the writer Agatha Christie who was discovered staying at the town’s Old Swan Hotel is the inspiration for an elegant range of Art Deco style evening wear. The students worked with guidance from tutor Lynn Benson and their collections will be unveiled to the public at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Popular womenswear label Phase Eight is at the show for the first time with a dazzling array of evening dresses, and the high street label will be joining fashion favourite Hobbs, which will be showcasing its autumn/winter collection featuring fabric from Yorkshire’s own Abraham Moon, manufacturers of luxury wool fabrics. Meanwhile Brook Taverner, which has its headquarters in Keighley, will present stylish suits and eye catching casual menswear.

The fashion show is co-ordinated by Bernadette Gledhill of Morton Gledhill – The Fashion Team, with hair and make-up by Bradford College.

Elsewhere around the showground, there is the popular mix of countryside. More than 12,000 entries across the competitive classes form the backbone of the show, from champion bulls and sheep to rabbits, poultry and pigs. And there’s also the Food Hall and Game Cookery Theatre, featuring TV favourite Rosemary Shrager, as well as the popular Shetland Pony Grand National, endless shopping opportunities and horticultural displays.

Great British Life: Isabelle Mason wears knitwear designed by Batley School of Art student Ria BurnsIsabelle Mason wears knitwear designed by Batley School of Art student Ria Burns (Image: Archant)

Ready for the jump

Three young riders competing in the Shetland Pony Grand National had a chance to try a jump or two in the Main Ring at the Great Yorkshire Show. Ten-year-old Evie Hole-Todd, her cousin Ruby Todd, 11 and Charlotte Tindale, 11 and their Lilliputian mounts made the most of the opportunity to try out a fence in the famous arena which has hosted such famous names as showjumping royalty John and Michael Whitaker. The trio train in Yorkshire and will be among young people from across the country hoping to qualify at Harrogate for a place in the final at Olympia, the London International Horse Show in December.

Bill Cowling, show director said: ‘We are delighted to welcome back the Shetland Pony Grand National and our Main Ring is a wonderful setting for it. The commitment and enthusiasm of the children on their feisty ponies has to be seen to be believed.’ Mrs Beryl Oakes will be the competition judge and Sebastian Garner and Vera Akehurst are the co-ordinators.

It’s the 157th Great Yorkshire Show, which this year runs from Tuesday July 14th to Thursday July 16th. For ticket information see www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

Yorkshire Life will of course have a stand at the show. Don’t be shy, come and say hello. We’d love to see you.

Great British Life: Ten-year-old Evie Hole-Todd, her cousin Ruby Todd, 11 and Charlotte Tindale, 11 and their Lilliputian mounts take a jump in the main arena at the Great Yorkshire Show cheered on by show director Bill CowlingTen-year-old Evie Hole-Todd, her cousin Ruby Todd, 11 and Charlotte Tindale, 11 and their Lilliputian mounts take a jump in the main arena at the Great Yorkshire Show cheered on by show director Bill Cowling (Image: Copyright © 2014 Kate Mallender)