A clothes designer is preparing to kickstart Brighton's own fashion weekend with a showcase of talent boasting the city's unique style.

Emma Hodges will show her Emmie Lou clothes line at the Lust For Life fashion show alongside work from a handful of other Brighton and Hove designers.

The catwalk show at the Honey Club on Brighton seafront will feature dresses from bridal designer Paul Milana, based in Ship Street Gardens, family fashions from Abstract, in Edward Street, and clothing from Richard Mateus and Flawless.

Miss Hodges organised the show with friend Liz Bishop, 25, as part of Brighton Festival Fringe in a bid to highlight the achievements of designers from the city.

The 26-year-old, of Ewart Street, Brighton, said: "I thought it was about time designers in Brighton came out of their bedrooms because there are so many talented people here and both the North Laines and the Lanes are booming with fashion.

"All the work in this show is very eclectic, which is very much like the city. In the future we might be able to turn this into Brighton's Fashion Week or Weekend and really go for it."

Annual fashion weeks are held in cities across the world, with young designers capable of winning multi-million-pound contracts from a single appearance.

Matthew Williamson and Stella McCartney are among the British names who have found international acclaim thanks to the arrival of fashion writers and buyers for seven days of catwalks and parties in London.

Celebrity tailor Gresham Blake has been designing bespoke suits for the likes of Norman Cook, Zoe Ball and Davina McCall since opening his store in Bond Street, Brighton, in 2002.

Mr Blake believes the city is filled with talented designers capable of supporting an annual Brighton Fashion Weekend but claims it will take persistently high quality work to become a success.

He said: "I think it is a great idea because it will encourage young designers and give Brighton its own identity.

"But you would need a strict process for any fashion weekend, because there is a difference between hand-made and home-made.

"You are only as good as the worst thing in the show."

Admission to Lust For Life is free, with makeovers, massages and stalls from different designers on offer to visitors.

Proceeds from the event go to the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement, which aims to achieve independence for Tibet.

Friday May 13, 2005