update

the clothes line

Britain's young designers are currently slugging it out to find sponsorship for their catwalk shows this October. Hussein Chalayan, a rising star, has won a deal worth pounds 28,000 with Absolut Vodka. He was chosen from a shortlist that included Owen Gaster and Clements Ribeiro.

The sighs of relief were audible from Chalayan's studio last week when the announcement was made. "It's really encouraging," said the designer, who would have had difficulty showing without the sponsorship. Simon Turnbull of Absolut says, "We decided to go with Hussein because he is one of Britain's most talented and individual designers, an innovator."