A DARWEN-BORN fashion designer has created a new anorak for a sports clothing giant and named it after a North West town.

Gary Aspden, launched the ‘Horwich Anorak’ this month to add to his Adidas Spezial range.

The coat, which retails at £329.95, has been worn by celebrities including football star David Beckham and britpop singer Liam Gallagher.

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Mr Aspden, originally from Kelvin Street, has also designed a Horwich track jacket and trousers, worth £204.90.

The 47-year-old said the North of England has always been an 'Adidas heartland' and has been one of his biggest inspirations.

He said: “I often acknowledge areas of northern towns in the names I use for Spezial products.

“I have a few old friends from Horwich and Bolton as I spent a lot of time over there as a youth.

“When I sent Liam the Horwich anorak he came back to say how much he loved the coat and sent me a picture of him wearing it which I posted on my Instagram.

“I then, purely by coincidence, saw an image of David Beckham on Instagram wearing it a few days later which was great.”

The anorak launched on Friday, March 17, and according to Mr Aspden it sold out in most UK stockists immediately.

Other works that feature northern locations in the names include the Haslingden jacket and the Pleasington anorak.

The fashionista began working with the sporting company when he was 29-years-old on entertainment promotions, looking after relationships between the company and the entertainment industry.

Adidas employs Mr Aspden as a consultant and he has been designing the Spezial range for the last three years.

In 2011, the former Holy Trinity pupil was asked to created a signature shoe by Japanese designer Kazuki Kuraishi, during his freelance career.

The £125 trainer was named after Darwen with golden-stitched lettering on the upper sole.

Mr Aspden said: “One of my good pals who is from Horwich also loves and wears this coat and that means a lot.

“While it’s nice to see famous faces wearing it what we are doing with Spezial it also matters a lot to me that regular lads who appreciate good product like it.”

Mr Aspden also attended UCLan.