The glamour of the catwalk came to a sun-drenched Newcastle city centre.
This weekend saw the launch of Newcastle Fashion Week, a nine-day bonanza of catwalk shows, designer talent and glamorous parties.
TV fashion star Brix Smith-Start, who features on Gok Wan’s series Fashion Fix, was guest of honour on Sunday when she introduced the new Spring and Summer collection from South Shields-based international fashion brand, Barbour.

Newcastle Fashion Week 2012 at Grey's Monument
Newcastle Fashion Week.

The famous label has a reputation for protecting people from the worst of the weather, but instead the company’s designer umbrellas were used to shade spectators from the sun. Singing the praises of the fashion label that has been based in South Shields for over 100 years, Brix said: “Fashion weeks are the bed of creativity and where trends are started. It is also about supporting the British bands that are known worldwide, of which Barbour is one.
“When we see a Barbour jacket it screams high quality. Another thing about it is you always have a great time wearing it, it lives your life with you.
“I have had the same Barbour jacket for the last 25 years and I’m still wearing it as it’s a classic.”
Future trendsetters from Newcastle College also showed off their final year designs to onlookers.
Newcastle Fashion Week continues tonight, as Marie Claire fashion magazine editor Elizabeth Walker headlines a week of guest speakers with a lecture on her remarkable career and a signing of her celebrated fashion bible, Style Book, at Northumbria University’s Law School.
Fashion front row show at the As You Like It bar in Jesmond will be hosted by Jayne Middlemiss and is a chance to see the region’s finest up-and-coming talent tomorrow from 7pm.
Designs from milliner The Libertarian, whose bespoke pieces have featured in The Times and Daily Telegraph, and pop star Pixie Lott’s favourite vintage-inspired jewellery brand Rock n Rose, will all be on show.
A mid-week highlight is the much-anticipated Northumbria University final year fashion show – widely regarded as one of the best in the country for spotting future design talent – on Wednesday.



Comments are closed.