Star Faryl wears Leigh creation at

Dec 18 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A NORTH dress designer is celebrating after handcrafting a gown worn by Britain’s Got Talent star Faryl Smith. Leigh Hetherington, 33, from Forest Hall, North Tyneside, runs wedding dress boutique Leigh Hetherington in Newcastle’s Old Eldon Square.

Last week one of her dresses graced the Royal Albert Hall as teen singer Faryl Smith performed with Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins.

And on the same night 13-year-old Faryl was handed a £2.3m record deal with the Universal Music Group – the most lucrative recording contract given to a schoolgirl.

Leigh was delighted to see her creations on the red carpet. She said: “We got in touch with Faryl when she was on Britain’s Got Talent.

“We didn’t hear anything back until a few weeks ago when we heard she was going to be singing with Katherine Jenkins. It was lovely to do and exciting to see it in the papers.”

The outfit, a red silk dress in 1950s style with a bow at the side, took weeks to make as Leigh sent a dozen outfits to the singer for fitting.

Faryl wore the 12 dresses in turn and pictures were taken before the dresses were returned to Newcastle so adjustments could be made.

Leigh said: “It was all done by post because we never actually got to meet her. It took weeks to finish. She did ring me up to thank me though because she was very pleased with it. She looked stunning in it.”

Leigh studied foundation art at Newcastle College, where she first discovered her love of fashion. She continued at Northumbria University where she developed an interest in jewellery and couture, before graduating with a BA honours in fashion design.

Her bridal shop was created in a shop in Wallsend in 2001 but Leigh moved to Newcastle’s Old Eldon Square two years ago.

She creates gowns and supplies wedding shops nationwide and recently shipped her designs to as far afield as Lebanon.

Last night she said she was fulfilling her dream of creating unique dresses. She said: “I’ve always wanted to do this. We create one-off dresses but we also have our own collections. We have sent dresses to Ascot, Lebanon and Northern Ireland.”

Faryl, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, shot to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain’s Got Talent, performing as a mezzo-soprano.

Although reaching the final, she finished outside the top three. But after signing the record deal her debut album is due to be released in early 2009.