A SUSSEX schoolgirl has been named on two shortlists at The Clothes Show 2015.

Burgess Hill Girls’ Alegra Cook is in the running for the Young Handbag Designer of the Year and the Young Artist of the Year at the festival’s Creative Awards.

The Year 11 pupil will discover her fate next Tuesday as the winners will be announced at a ceremony at the NEC in Birmingham.

Alegra’s brief was to design a statement clutch bag to launch a new luxury handbag range for the Young Handbag Designer competition this year, with competitors required to produce their designs before sending them for judging.

The top ten designs were then selected by the panel, these then have to be produced to be modelled on the catwalk at The Clothes Show.

For the Young Artist competition the brief was to create an artistic patchwork through either illustration, or fabric to inspire a gown worthy of the red carpet.

Allegra said: “From start to finish this bag was a feat of engineering, and it wouldn't have been possible without the support of my school and family.

“After giving up precious time and weekends the bag that I could only dream of was beginning to transform in front of my eyes.

“This creation has allowed me to realise that I can achieve anything if I attack it with a needle, thread and belief.”

In order to gain some tips and professional advice, Allegra visited bespoke leather handbag designer and manufacturer Jane Hopkinson.

Having been making handbags for over 30 years, Jane, whose workshop and retail shop are based at Turner Dumbrell Workshops in Ditchling, was keen to discuss Allegra’s design ideas and offer helpful tips and advice.

She said: “Allegra has plenty of ideas for her interpretation of a pocket watch as a smart occasion bag.

“I loved the way she was using the different materials to create different textures for the patterns on the surface, and her embroidery skills for the numerals.

“Her choice has allowed plenty of scope for showing her use of different materials and sewing skills.”