Somerset College

Students from Bishop Fox’s Community School in Taunton were aiming high in the fashion world recently, when they auditioned for a major Taunton show to be held in September.

Lecturers from Somerset College’s nationally renowned Textiles and Fashion department came to choose 17 lucky students who will join with professional models at the Orchard Seasons Fashion Show.

Set to be a fashion first for the town, the recently refurbished Orchard Shopping Centre and Somerset College  in Taunton are teaming up for a day of public fashion shows and a glamorous gala evening event.

Fashion Lecturer Gary Mills and Imelda Hughes, Head of Textiles and Fashion Design at the College, spent an afternoon with the Bishop Fox’s Year 7 and 8 students, teaching them how to model on the catwalk and explaining what they would need to do.

The Orchard Seasons Fashion Show, to be held at the Orchard Centre in the heart of the town, will showcase stunning outfits designed by University Degree Textiles and Fashion graduates from Somerset College and the daytime shows will feature Autumn and Winter collections from the Orchard Centre retailers, plus a 1.30pm preview of the evening show.

Over 30 young hopefuls took part and the 17 to be chosen will feature the retailers’ outfits, joining with professional models on the catwalk during five free shows staged during the day, all open to the public. In the evening an invitation only gala event will feature professional models from Bristol, showing graduate designs recently showcased at a major graduate fashion show in London’s Brick Lane.

All the shows are being professionally choreographed by renowned fashion show producer Lesley Goring of London, who has worked with fashion and style guru Gok Wan, Zandra Rhodes, and the London Graduate Fashion Week.

The models’ hair is being styled by Celebrity Hairdresser of the Year Jamie Stevens, a former Somerset College student who has gone on to the top of the hairdressing world, including work with celebrity clients and TV shows Gok’s Fashion Fix and How To Look Good Naked.

The Orchard Seasons Fashion Show is being funded by the Orchard Centre and other sponsors. Some of the money raised at the event will go to radio station Heart Somerset’s Have A Heart charity for children with terminal illness.

For more information please visit www.orchardtaunton.co.uk

Caption: Tutors Gary Mills and Imelda Hughes with aspiring models at Bishop Fox’s Community School.