IT was billed as Cut Above - and nearly 100 textile students at a Hampshire sixth form proved they were exactly that at their annual fashion show.

Students at Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh, strutted their stuff to showcase a dazzling array of cutting-edge designs.

Three separate performances of the 2004 fashion show were given to audiences of pupils from the college's feeder schools plus parents and invited guests.

Besides producing garments that would not have looked out of place on catwalks in Paris, Milan or New York, the show featured some funky sounds, subtle lighting and slick choreography.

AS-level students based their work on the theme of wood, metal, ceramic and glass with many setting themselves the challenge of incorporating those materials into their designs. Others were inspired by the colours and textures.

Pippa Gower manipulated cutlery for an innovative body adornment, Rosie Morton constructed a skirt from lengths of copper pipe teamed with wire leg wraps, while Elizabeth Skudder produced a design from twigs.

A2 level students were able to choose their themes which ranged from identity and emotions to using feathers and carousels for colour.

Eleanor Darios produced an expressive garment constructed from stitched and sculpted fabric words inspired by people's thoughts and feelings.

Tea for two and Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration behind menswear designed by Leah Somerton while Lydia Dunn produced a deconstructed vintage piece inspired by lace and a skirt made from shirt sleeves and collars.

Barton Peveril's textiles course leader Lorna Bukhory said: "Both AS and A2-level students had an intensive four weeks designing and making clothes for the catwalk.

"It will form a valuable part of their coursework and was a challenging and exciting time for all the students and staff involved."