Many are imaginative and striking – heads will be turned by the wearer.

The theme is “Tartan with Attitude” – in other words, not overly traditional designs harking back to misty ancient Celtic times but designs with a more modern use of tartan for a contemporary market.

The results won’t be announced until May 5 but some of the garments entered are extravagant and flamboyant and others more traditional. Dress makers have entered from New England but also from Byron Bay and Sydney.

The judge, Tracy Wright, worked hard looking at garments on local models at the Services Club in Glen Innes on Monday. She said she was looking not just at the design but also at how ll it met the brief which was “Tartan with Attitude”. She was also looking at the workmanship and creativity shown by the designer and seamstress. She was particularly impressed by attention to fine detail.

She was complimentary, saying that the designs and finishing of the dresses, coats, hats and jackets were of a high standard.

She is an expert in melding traditional fabrics with modern design as the founder of a company called “Raw Fibre”. She said her aim was to “help women appreciate their own unique beauty.”

Here’s how her website describes the venture: “Based in Armidale, on the beautiful New England Tablelands, Tracy Wright has created Raw Fibre. A unique label which, as the name suggests is focused on manufacturing garments using beautiful natural fibres.

“Tracy’s rural origins have resulted in her seeking inspiration from the natural environment and the beauty it encapsulates. This love of nature has carried through to the brand’s ethos. It also offers endless sources of inspiration for colour and design.”