Wear your heart on your sleeve

About 120 people enjoyed an evening of variety and value with colourful assortments of clothes and accessories from around the globe .

Fairtrade committee member Jack Doherty opened the show with a plea to value the expertise, time and aspirations of the producer more than the price .

He said : "Value the garment , value the producer."

David Ball of Natural Flow supported by Siobhan Wilson of Kolkata .com, and Lovethatstuff from Brighton , talked the audience through the "wonderful, fabulous and attractive" range of products being exhibited .

There were 24 local models taking part, from mostly Pebsham primary school, St Richard's College, St Mary Magdalene's youth Club and Grosvenor Park.

Jack commented: "Nobody should buy out of guilt .

"What we are seeing is quality . We buy these out of justice and love - they are attractive, comfortable and deserve supporting."

"We saw Fairtrade trousers, wrap around mini and "normal " skirts, necklaces and bracelets . NOMADS range was flabbergasting, as shown by

Lesley Shareif, and well worth googling . PEOPLE TREE , a very commendable label , was one of the first to support Fairtrade were here, and is supporting London Fashion week ."

The Town Mayor Councillor Paul Lendon paid tribute to all who took part in what was Bexhill's first Fairtrade Fashion Show and singled out Jack as "Mr Fairtrade" leading a committed group enhancing Fairtrade Town Bexhill .

Pestalozzi staff and volunteers were also at Grosvenor House in support and received a donation from the evening's proceedings .