Hull’s award-winning outdoor market will dress up for the occasion as it celebrates HullBID Fashion Week.

Organiser Julie Buffey has adopted a Fashion Week theme for the next event on Friday 3 May and is challenging stallholders to dress in fashion through the ages when they set up in Trinity Market.

Leigh Spence will don the steampunk attire which inspired her to launch her Twister Wonderland online and market business. Kirsty Burnell, founder of Fairymoo’s Doodling World, promises to reflect her passion for the 80s. Other outfits will be revealed on the day and there will be so many of them that Julie has made special arrangements to overflow from Trinity Square into Holy Trinity Church.

Julie, who also runs the Roisin Dubh shop in Hepworths Arcade, launched the outdoor market last August to try and increase footfall in the area. HullBID provided the initial 18 market stalls followed by an additional three and then purchased a further three to satisfy demand, with Hull City Council also supplying three. The number of regular traders stands at about 22 and the aim is to offer something different.

The market takes place on the first Friday of each month and recently won an award from Hull Civic Society for its contribution towards the renaissance of the Old Town. Julie is in the process of developing themes for future market days, and Fashion Week is the first.

“The Fashion Week finale has been held in Holy Trinity Church for the last two years and has helped to attract people to this part of the city centre so we want to build on that,” said Julie.

“The market has been growing steadily but there has been more interest than ever for this one so I have approached Holy Trinity Church and they said we were more than welcome to use their premises, so we’re very grateful to them.

“Our policy has always been to try and attract creative stallholders who will bring something different to the city centre, and that is certainly what we’ll have this time.”

Leigh makes her own jewellery which she sells at the monthly market, the Prospect Centre UPmarket, craft fairs around the region and through her Facebook page, with a website currently taking shape.

“It’s alternative and mainly inspired by steampunk, which is what I’ll be wearing for the Fashion Week market,” she said.

“I also make sure I have some new products whenever I go to Trinity Market and this time there will be some retro-inspired pieces with necklaces, earrings and bracelets made from guitar picks.”

Kirsty, who runs Fairymoo’s Doodling World from home, online and from the Moon on a Stick pop-up emporium at Newland Avenue, Hull, is also a regular at Trinity Market and at the Prospect Centre UPmarket with her own designs of art, cards and crafts.

“I came to Hull from Leeds to study and I lived in halls of residence in the Old Town,” she said. “It’s a beautiful area. I just want more people to come to the Old Town and the market helps with that.”

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, said: “The outdoor market is a real success story and is helping to make a difference to the Old Town thanks to the efforts of Julie and the other traders.

“HullBID has supported the market from the start as part of our efforts to help businesses in that part of the city centre. We are delighted that the market stallholders are adopting Fashion Week as the theme for their next market and we are confident it will prove to be a popular attraction, bringing benefits for other businesses in the area.”