Mumbles designer Stephanie Allin helps give Tulisa the X Factor
IT is one of the biggest shows on TV that attracts millions of viewers — and a little bit of it was made in Mumbles.
When X Factor judge Tulisa took to the stage in Sunday's results show, the singer turned more than a few heads with her elegant evening dress.
And the outfit in question was created by a Swansea designer who has gone from a shop in Neath to launching collections in Paris and New York.
Mumbles-born Stephanie Allin is the brains behind the gown, which was handmade in her shop in Mumbles.
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The fashion designer said: "Tulisa's stylist had been in touch saying Tulisa had seen my collections online and liked them, and wanted to see them for real.
"I sent over some dresses for her to look at, but that was weeks ago.
"I had no idea she was going to wear one on national television, but then on Sunday evening I suddenly started getting loads of calls and messages from friends telling me to turn the television on.
"It was wonderful to see Tulisa wearing one of my dresses — she looked amazing, and I've had so much extremely positive feedback about it."
After finishing school, Stephanie moved to London to study at the Ravensbourne School of Art before coming home to Wales in 1990.
She opened her first shop selling bridal wear in Alfred Street in Neath before moving to Mumbles in 1994 — then expanding into a second outlet in swanky Marylebone in London.
Her latest collection — of evening wear — has also been launched in New York and Paris.
From a staff of two, she now employs some 25 people.
The mother-of-two said: "I am very proud to say that this is a Welsh company. My core business is bridal dresses, and I tell all the girls that their dresses were made in the pretty little seaside village of Mumbles in Wales, which makes them special.
"I am very proud to say 'made in Mumbles'."
Stephanie said her star-connections began when she opened her second shop in London, and stylists also began seeing her collections online.
She became friendly with Strictly Come Dancing stars Natalie Lowe — who is partnering former cricketer Michael Vaughan in the current series — and Katya Virshilas, who partnered rugby player Gavin Henson, and celebrity stylists began calling for some Mumbles dresses.
Word of the new Welsh fashion in town also began spreading on social media.
Stephanie said: "My evening dress isn't the kind of thing Tulisa wears normally on the show but I though she looked wonderful — she has a lot of youth appeal, and I hear she has had a lot of feedback about it. Opening the London shop gave me a wider audience, but I grew this business in Wales and I am proud to say my dresses are made here."
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