UNIQUE boutiques, designer labels and the best in High Street brands will come together for South Coast Fashion Week in May.

Described as the biggest fashion event ever on the South Coast, the event, sponsored by House of Fraser, will take place at the BIC from May 9 to 11, featuring catwalk collections, hints and tips from the experts and some hot new talent.

AFC Bournemouth will be taking part, with the Cherriettes live on stage showing their Cheer Routines, and students from Bournemouth Arts University and other regional colleges will be presenting their creative talents with a series of fashion shows and graduate collections.

Managing director Mandy Pearce said: “Our aim is to create a premier annual fashion event that will support established brands and promote new designers and products.

“This is big, we want to have this event go wild and become something that fashion followers all over the UK will book in their diaries every year.”

The Zip Yard will be exhibiting their altering and haberdashery abilities with their walk-in clothes reinvention and Fox Tailoring, the south’s only travelling tailor, will be demonstrating wares.

South Coast Fashion Week held a series of preview events over the summer including The Face of South Coast Fashion Week model search competition, which was entered by over 250 people.