BUDDING fashion designers will be strutting their stuff in the heart of Edinburgh this weekend.

Dunbar-based Fashion School, set up by international fashion designer Jacqui Burke, has a temporary exhibition space at Waverley Princes Mall.

The temporary space, provided by Outerspaces Charity, will be the venue for an event to showcase the work of the students and a few outfits from some of Burke’s RETRO collections over the years.

Students and former students of all ages and abilities will have the opportunity to model, have fun and show their collections on Sunday.

Jacqui, who provided garments for Cher and Gloria Estefan, told the Courier how she still received the same buzz ahead of fashion shows as she did when at international events.

She said: “I remember literally driving back from London Fashion Week 1997 to do a charity fashion show at Dunbar Leisure Pool where a catwalk was built into the pool, choosing 40 pupils from Dunbar Grammar School to model at the show, local hairdressers and local businesses got involved and there was a buzz of excitement long after the show!

“Now those pupils have their own children at the fashion school who are attending classes and they still remember how excited they were and how it gave them confidence, and they can show them pics of them modelling at their age!”

The show, featuring designs from people of all ages and live music, starts at 5.30pm.

Jacqui added: “We have been working with East Lothian schools and East Lothian Works and their most vulnerable groups such as Girls Allowed for the past 10 years now.

“I bump into former pupils and students who all tell me how much they loved coming to the fashion school and the confidence it gave them.

“It is such a shame that more and more young people are anxious now to attend schools after lockdown.

“It is so important to encourage confidence, positive body image and self-belief.

“I believe everyone can express themselves and create an instant language through the clothes they wear and, if they have designed and made them themselves, they can wear them with pride.”