Sparky Kay Speight and Hayley Burr are a couple of trailblazers on the brink of making a name for themselves in the world of fashion.

The design duo from Sunderland have come through their courses with flying colours from Northumbria University.

And at Graduate Fashion Week in London, where graduates from all over the country showcase their designs, the girls showed fashion scouts from home and abroad what they can do.

Kay, 22, of Hawsker Close, Tunstall, was invited by the London College of Fashion to apply for a £15,000 scholarship to do a masters course starting in September after showcasing her designs.

She and her schoolfriend Hayley, 23, of The Broadway –- they both went to St Roberts of Newminster RC School in Washington and studied at Newcastle College -– graduated from Northumbria Univeristy's School of Fashion as leading lights.

Both have set their sights on working as designers for big-name fashion houses. And they aim tofollow in the footsteps of two former Northumbria University trailblazers.

Louise Trotter, from Sunderland, is now a top designer for Jigsaw, and celeb designer Scott Henshall, from Teesside, has a star-studded client list which includes Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Victoria Beckham, Natalie Imbruglia, Cerys Matthews and Iman, who are all entranced by his elegant cashmere and witty prints.

While Scott's clothes are inspired by comic books, superheroes and crossword puzzles, Kay found inspiration in tropical fish and disco music for her catwalk collection at the University's annual fashion show staged at The Sage, Gateshead.

Kay's bold and exciting screen-printed designs were also modelled on the catwalk at Graduate Fashion Week, creating a lot of interest from talent scouts.

She said: "I try to convey a sense of energy in floaty tunics, full circle dresses and jumpsuits using chiffon, silk and georgette.

"I have always been interested in designing and making my own clothes from being very young.

"I find it all very interesting and very unpredictable because you never know where you are going to end up.

"I would like to work for a well-known company like H&M. I would love to live in Sweden where they are based. I have been a few times and really like it there. They are my favourite high street store."

Recently Kay was runner-up in a River Island design competition which bagged her a work placement this summer with them in London, and on Elle magazine, which she features in this month.

And Hayley, who had the opportunity to do her work experience in Germany for a year, would love to work abroad too.

She said: "My dream is to work for a really successful high end fashion house. I don't want my own label."

Her designs in silk, organza and sheer fabrics she reckons are "weird and wearable."

Hayley's fashion forward fashion in black, silver and red is bold in colour and cut.

And both Hayley and Kay have proved they are indeed a cut-above both on and off the catwalk.