The city's fashionistas were out in force to attend last night's launch party catwalk show

Norwich Fashion Week opened to a spectacular catwalk show at The Library Restaurant last night.

Independent retailers and local designers showcased their latest collections in front of over 200 guests to launch the week long celebration of independent fashion in the city.

Kicking off the show was a stylish set from independent women's wear retailer Vanilla, the main sponsor of Norwich Fashion Week who also closed the show. Other sets came from Daisy & Lola, Poppy Valentine, Soho Hip, independent menswear retailers Elements and hip hop clothing online shop Dilate Clothing.

Prim Vintage flew the flag for the increasingly popular vintage look with a 40s tea dress, 50s cocktail dress and 60s day dress with shoes from Norwich shoe manufacturer Van Dal. Designer Claire Read from fashion label Poppy Valentine showed how vintage fabric can be turned into vintage inspired designs with her 50s style Doris Day dress in a 40s floral print and her Twiggy 60s shift dress in a gold and brown graphic print with Spring's must-have peter pan collar.

Designer Marilyn Thomas from Norwich wowed the audience with her take on the Fair Isle knitwear trend – a hand knitted soft pink Fair Isle wrap around cardigan in spring and summer's bright hues of pink, red, blue and orange.

Norwich designer Marian Williams also captivated the crowd with her dress coloured in a homemade dye made from the bark of a silver birch.

Jewellery designer Alison Varley from North Norfolk got into a spin with her spiral themed pieces made in silver and gold and Johanne Couldrey showed how locally produced alpaca can be turned into eco-friendly fashion.

Students from the City College Norwich also took to the catwalk to showcase their work and received rapturous appaulse, and soon-to-open shop ego, set up by the city's Retail Skills Academy showed how unwanted designer clothes can be given a new lease of life.

Anita Vadhir, owner of independent fashion retailer and one of the organisers of Norwich Fashion Week said: 'It was great to be part of the launch night catwalk show, it has really brought together small independent retailers and local designers as well as strengthening the link between business and education with the involvement of students from City College Norwich and the Retail Skills Academy.'

*See pictures from the show by clicking on the photo gallery link at the top right hand side of this page.

*Don't miss full highlights from the Norwich Fashion Week launch party catwalk show on the Life Matters pages in the Norwich Evening News on Monday.

*Find out what food is popular with the Norwich Fashion Week crowd in today's (Friday February 18) Norwich Evening News.