A DYNAMIC design duo have fashioned their way into the finals of a UK-wide textile art contest.

The Northern School of Art students Chloe Maloney and Lily Smith have both been named as finalists in the National Fashion Textiles competition at the London Olympia Knitting and Stitching Show 2014.

The fashion embroidery competition, open to young people aged 16 to 19, was launched in 2013 to celebrate the achievements of fashion and textile students and to encourage them to pursue careers within the industry.

Chloe and Lily, who are both in their final year of a level 3 BTEC extended diploma in fashion and textiles at the college’s Middlesbrough campus, were shortlisted by the competition judges after submitting examples of their first year course work.

“We’re both really pleased to have made it to the final,” said Chloe, 17, of Middlesbrough.

“Lily and I were at the Knitting and Stitching Show last year and we never imagined that we would be exhibiting our own work there 12 months later.”

Both students worked on the theme of ‘backyard’ for their entries, taking influences from nature, flowers, moss, wood, metals and cultures, incorporating them into fabric patterns before creating a garment from their bespoke material.

“I looked at man-made elements including concrete and rust patterns, chipped paint and tyre tracks on mud to come up with my pattern,” said Chloe. “Then I incorporated my textile design into a skirt using leatherette and crackle glaze for the panelling.”

Lily, 18, of Middlesbrough, who took her inspiration from mould and culture patterns, used batik to create a 3D effect material which she used to create a tunic dress.

“We had 12 weeks to research, develop and create our finished garments,” said Lily.

“Neither of us had any idea that they would be entered into the competition so it was a lovely surprise when we made it to the final, especially as it was our first year work which would have been up against tough competition from degree students.”

Both Chloe and Lily’s entries will be exhibited in the National Fashion Textiles Gallery at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Olympia, which takes place from March 13-16. The winner of the competition will be announced on March 12.

The Northern School of Art lecturer Lynne Carverhill said: “We are very proud of both our students for getting so far in the competition.

“Despite working from the same brief both girls’ outcomes were very individual to them and by using their own different techniques they have each produced garments of a very high standard.”

Both girls are set to continue with their textile careers after graduating with Lily applying to study fashion at Leeds University and Chloe moving onto the fashion enterprise degree course at The Northern School of Art’s Hartlepool  University Level Campus.