Showgirls, suffragettes and an ancient baboon bone are just some of the influences behind this year's fashion collections at York College

LITTLE Gauis Sherwood has been the muse for mum Lucy's end-of-year fashion collections at York College.

Dressed in a grey playsuit, with printed fabric insets and giant silver punch-holes, Gauis shows off a piece from Lucy's final year design project which focusses on childrenswear.

The inspiration for her collection was an unusual source: an ishango bone, which is the fibula of a baboon and dates back to the Upper Paleolithic era. Markings on the bone were thought to be used as a measure and Lucy used mathematical calculations in her unisex designs.

She said: "The items I have made are non gender specific and are aimed at children aged between seven and 14. I have made jumpsuit and culottes as well as trousers and a jacket."

Lucy, 44, from York, said she focussed on unisex clothing because she found it hard to find children's clothing – particularly for boys over a certain age – that did not make them look like mini men.

After college, she would like to work creatively with children and is thinking of becoming a teaching assistant.

Most of the fashion students at York College want to continue in the field, either working or going on to further study.

Ashleigh Timbs is a super talented 21-year-old from Pocklington who wants to do a PhD in fashion and then set up her own business making affordable clothes for children in need.

Her final year collection for her BA Hons Fashion Design course was based on her experience of seeing migrants while on a family holiday in Malta.

York Press:

Migrants, suffragettes and showgirls are the inspiration behind these outfits from York designers (l-r) Ashleigh Timbs, Kellie Walker and Georgia Forsyth

"Last year when I was in Malta one of the migrant boats capsized and the police were patrolling the shoreline looking for people. It inspired me to bring a little of this back and tell people about it here," she said.

Her clothes are sportswear, but the migrant theme comes through in the bright orange of the leggings ("they are the colour of life jackets," says Ashleigh) and the oversized pockets in her grey hooded coat ("that came from the idea that they have to carry all they have on them"). The white cropped tee-shirt has newsprint words featuring "peace, love and hope".

The suffragettes were the focal point of work by Kellie Walker, 25, from Leeds, who studied military outfits and armour as part of her end-of-year designs. Kellie has incorporated puffs, ruffles and the suffragette rosette into her designs, all in a military green. She is now looking for a job as a garment technologist.

Eating disorders and the problem of body dysmorphia (where people have a distorted view of their appearance) were the guiding forces behind Paula Delgado's dramatic pieces. One dress is a design of two halves, with an elaborate purple leather bodice that is supposed to represent "natural folds of body fat" while the pink pleats of the skirt are "inspired by the ribcage", explained Paula.

Paula, 22, from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, is planning to return home and open up her own design brand.

Sabrina Wharton-Brown, 27, from York is a Tolkien enthusiast and so based her final designs on The Hobbit. Her black cloak is trimmed with gold and there is a ring on the end of the zipper! Paula works as a tailor at Levi's and loves working with denim. Her collection also features jeans, including a pair in gold.

Teenagers on the extended diploma level 3 fashion and clothing course at York College are also putting the finishing touches to their collections.

Together, all the students will be showing off their work at two fashion shows at The Principal York hotel on Monday, at 3pm and 7.30pm.

The diploma students have been interpreting the 1920s in their designs, taking inspiration from 1920s sportswear and architecture as well as showgirls, royalty and precious metals.

Hannah Robertson, 17, from Stamford Bridge, has stitched hair pieces in bold colours to a smock dress. "It is to reflect the fact that women in the 1920s were becoming more bold and outspoken."

A love of The Great Gatsby led Georgia Forsyth, 18, to her showgirls designs, featuring bright orange leotards with garters and feathers in red and yellow.

Beth McFarlane, 17, took her cue from architecture of the 1920s in her sports luxe pieces, which include a pink hooded top over a printed leotard.

The popularity of precious metals in 1920s design led Jenny Scott, 17, to ancient Egypt and Cleopatra – all apparent in the use of see-through chiffon in her designs.

Royalty was the starting point for 19-year-old Joe Welby's collection. Formal dresses get a modern twist, and are shorter and all topped off with mini crowns.

Shannon Bryszkiewski, 19, loved bridal wear and was inspired by a French designer from the 1920s in her collection which includes an exquisite full-length off-white dress with waterfall neckline.

Marie Neal-Smith, fashion tutor at York College said this year's collections were inspired by a broad range of themes, often carrying messages which reflect society today. "Fabrics and silhouettes are diverse, creative and often unconventional in the combinations they are presented in. This promises to be an exciting 2016 show.”

Free tickets for the afternoon performance on Monday are still available from the York College finance office, or by telephone: 01904 770495.