Students from the textiles department are getting the chance to show off their most creative designs at in international trade show in Paris this week.

Located in the fashion capital of the world from 16^th-19^th February, Premiere Vision Designs is the leading show for creative textiles and surface designs, where new fashion and textile talents are sought, and students from Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) will be showcasing their work as part of their course.

Four second year students from the textiles and surface design degree will help to design, set up and man the college’s stand as an enhancement to their studies, which will feature designs for sale from the students attending the show as well as work from other selected students from the course.

As part of the show, the students were also asked to submit designs to be printed on the show’s goody bag, which are given out to journalists at the show and the design is then promoted in the show catalogue.

21-year-old Adele Catchpole from Acklam in Middlesbrough is excited about her first visit. As well as helping to create a display of student work, Adele will be showing potential buyers samples and selling the designs, including her own.

She said: “I am really looking forward to seeing other designers work, getting a feel for the vibe of the trade show and how it all works, and potentially selling some of my own designs.

“I plan to exhibit some work from my first year which is based on a concept of ‘floral underwater’. I froze flowers into blocks of ice and illustrated them with bubble and water detail and translated this through to fabric samples. My second year work is based on hallucinations and dreams and is very vibrant, using digital collage techniques as well as traditional embroidery.”

Fellow fashion and textiles student Jess Breckill, 20, from Darlington, will be making her second visit to the show. She said:

“I am excited that for this visit I am actually working on the stand, and look forward to seeing what the procedures of selling work are and handling customers. I will be taking six designs based on the concept of deforestation, so my designs include images of monkey skulls and show the effects of deforestation. I have contrasted this with bright colours and fruit, which some people may not realise at first as they only notice the ‘nice’ picture.”

Ruth Envy who is also a Surface Design student, 20, from Gateshead will be working for the first time on the CCAD stand. She is intending to meet fellow designers and create new contacts at the show. She said:

“I can’t wait to work at Premiere Vision in Paris, my designs are based on hidden beauty and the potential in the overlooked and ordinary, such as plastic bags stuck in trees! I want to get my name out there as a designer and create interest in my work.”

Claire Baker, CCAD Programme Leader for Textiles, said: “the students are always very excited to take their work to the show and see how their designs positively stand up next to those of the professionals, it is of paramount importance for them to see first hand how the industry works and it is an excellent learning experience .”