Think you've got what it takes to be a fashion designer?

Then why not put your talents to the test with a competition created by the organisers of the UK's largest celebration of Asian culture?

The annual Asian lifestyle event of the year Mela 2005 is back with a bang, and a host of fresh new ideas, pavilions packed with fantastic exhibitors offering great show discounts, and of course the very best in Bollywood and British-Asian entertainment.

And the annual search for fresh new talent continues so for all those dedicated followers of fashion, this is a chance to show off their creative talents and design an outfit that deserves to be on the MELA Fashion Catwalk!

The Mela 2005 Young Designer Competition invites anyone aged between 16 and 25 to create an outfit that fits a specific design brief, but also reflects the fusion of both Asian and Western fashion.

This year's competition theme takes its inspiration from some of the most famous plays in the world, written by William Shakespeare.

Entrants are required to create an outfit fit for one of Shakespeares heroes or heroines using eastern influences as their inspiration. The combination of the two fashion themes sees an opportunity for the young designer to delve into history and study both eastern and western designs to create an outfit that is deemed worthy for characters such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo, Juliet or Mark Anthony and Cleopatra.

Twenty finalists will be selected from the entries and invited to make up their designs to be showcased on the Mela 2005 Fashion catwalk, and to take pride of place in the Young Designer Exhibit for the three days of the show.

The closing date for entries is Monday 12th September 2005, with the Grand Final taking place at Mela 2005 on Friday 18th November.

For more details about Mela 2005 and a design brief for the MELA 2005 YOUNG DESIGNER COMPETITION call 020 8902 5575.