Fashion week ends with an African vision

LONDON Fashion Week draws to a close this evening with the announcement of the designer of the year award, writes Roger Tredre. Rifat Ozbek is favourite to win the award, held by Vivienne Westwood for the past two years.

Ally Capellino conjured up a dreamy African vision in layers of linen yesterday. The photograph shows an African head-dress over a blanket-print tunic from Ally Capellino's catwalk show. The show, the company's first since 1989, is the result of a deal signed with Coats Viyella, Britain's largest textiles company. The firm is investing up to pounds 250,000 a year in the Ally Capellino label to support the cost of catwalk shows and advertising.

The arrangement, which is being watched closely by the industry, could be a prototype for similar clothing industry deals between designers and manufacturers.

(Photograph omitted)