DESIGNS by a tweed-wearing Yorkshire Dales shepherdess have been warmly embraced by the fashion flock.

Alison O'Neill showcased her "Wool is My Bread" collection of tailored tweed jackets, skirts and waistcoats on the catwalk at one of the country's largest agricultural events, the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate.

The 54-year-old Sedbergh hill farmer described the response to her beautifully cut Herdwick, Swaledale and Kendal Rough Fell garments as "fantastic" and "overwhelming".

For three days, packed houses at the Kuoni fashion pavilion watched four fashion shows a day - with some observers renaming it "the sheepwalk" and praising Alison for "putting the sheep into chic" with her Shepherdess brand.

The designer told the Gazette: "My vision five years ago was to drive a flock of Kendal Rough Fell sheep through Kendal, which I did; start Kendal Wool Gathering which I did; and now to take Kendal Rough Fell tweed - a first ever - and possibly one of the most unique tweeds in the UK to the catwalk

"Last week I achieved this and eight professional models wowed the world of fashion with a collection of wool tweeds from my farm; each piece of clothing can be traced back to each sheep, my flock and every process to the bespoke item."

Choreography featured authentic shepherd's whistles and hazel wood crooks made by Linda and Dennis Wall, of Ulverston - the handles crafted from Rough Fell, Herdwick, Swaledale and Jacob sheep's horns.

The reaction to the show was "a triumph for me and for Kendal Rough Fell sheep", said Alison, who lives and works at her traditional 37-acre farm, Shacklabank, with daughter Scarlett, aged 19.

All Alison's tweeds are made from fleeces from her own and neighbouring farms in the Howgills, and all the washing, weaving, pattern-cutting and sewing takes place within ten or 20 miles.

The monochrome, diamond twill Kendal Rough Fell tweed is woven at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh, and Alison named her collection "Wool is My Bread" because her wool is now her livelihood, thanks to the value added by fashion.

Describing the reaction to her show as "a dream come true", Alison told the Gazette she is now considering several offers from other catwalks, including London Fashion Week 2019. "The fashion world is an unusual creature that I've just started to get to know. I'm the new girl, the shepherdess."

For more, see www.shepherdess.co.uk