A fashion student has won a regional publisher’s challenge to make an outfit out of old newspaper delivery bags.

Archant challenged students at Norwich University of the Arts to design clothes from the fluorescent bags which bear the name of the Norwich Evening News.

The competition was dreamt up by Archant’s partnership and events director Kieran Miles, who found the bags during an office tidy up.

Yvette Hadfield, pictured below, was awarded first prize for her dress, paired with a handbag made from the same materials.

She told Archant: “When I heard about the contest I immediately started doodling how the bags might look as a dress. From the doodles I made some paper models and then got cracking.

“The bags were a bit old and dirty so needed a good scrub. The material is exceptionally thick so I used an industrial sewing machine to stitch everything together.

“It took about three days to construct but I’m really pleased with the outcome.”

Asked whether she would be wearing the dress in public, Yvette added: “Probably not. Whilst it certainly looks unique, unfortunately it’s not very comfortable – although it’d definitely keep you warm in winter.”

Said Kieran: “There were piles of them in the dusty basement. I thought it would be a real shame just to dump them when there might be interesting ways to give them a second life, so I approached NUA who set the challenge to their students.

“The results were simply amazing and Yvette’s piece is a particular head turner.

“Archant has a responsibility to engage with all sections of our community and all types of people.

“I’m pleased this idea captured the imagination of a really talented group of students and got their creative cogs turning.”