Sarina Dean’s hand-crafted wool tweed capes will be off the farm and on the catwalk at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. .
A family farming business which diversified from flocks to fashion is flourishing in the North Yorkshire countryside - and across the globe.
Galijah, set up by Sarina Dean at her family's 190-acre farm at Oldstead near York, produces individually hand-crafted tweed capes which are now selling as far afield as Japan and America. Sarina's mother has now come on board as it expands.
Sarina said: 'I was keen to explore how we used our wool in other ways and investigated the idea of unique tweed capes. Now, in order to keep up with demand my mother has now become involved with the design and sewing process too.'
The capes were sold mainly locally in the farming and equine community, but word soon spread and they set up a website for on-line sales, which also includes a range of dresses, skirts, gilets and accessories.
This summer the capes will flourish on the runway as one of the new Yorkshire companies the Great Yorkshire Show Kuoni Catwalk.
The company name, Galijah comes from Sarina's two sons, 10-year-old Gabriel and seven-year-old Elijah, with the latest family addition, Xavier represented with an x in the company logo.
The family's 250-strong flock is made up of several breed types and after trials with wool from their rare breed Manx Loaghtan sheep, which was rather coarse to dye the vibrant colours they needed, Sarina is now experimenting with different wool types. As well as finding the perfect fabric from the wool from their own sheep, Sarina is also working with Marton Mills, a traditional family owned weaving mill near Otley.
Sarina says; 'We think our clothes are a little different to anything you can buy in the shops and we can't wait to see the reaction of people at the fashion show at the Great Yorkshire Show. It's all happening so quickly and we are very excited about the future.'
Show director, Charles Mills says: 'We are delighted to be showcasing the work of a Yorkshire farmer on the Kuoni Catwalk. The show is one of the biggest agricultural events in the UK and it's about showing the diverse way on life on farms throughout the country, and Sarina's work does exactly that.'
The Great Yorkshire Show's Fashion section is set to get a makeover this year with a new presenter, new home and entrance, opening into the heart of the Showground.
For the first time, ITV Calendar's Christine Talbot will be presenting the show - an opportunity she said she was delighted to take up.
The fashion show will be produced by Bernadette Gledhill with hair and make-up by students from the White Rose Beauty Colleges from across Yorkshire.
The 161st Great Yorkshire Show will be held from Tuesday to Thursday, July 9-11, at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.
The Kuoni Catwalk will take place each day at 11am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4pm, with a one-off celebrity special on Tuesday, July 9 at 2:30pm.
Tickets for the show are on sale at greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/ticket-information/
