Huddersfield fashion designer Hardy Punglia launched his own range of clothing with a capsule collection of just five designs. Three years later and he’s got hundreds of garments hanging on the rails of his shop, sells to an X Factor celebrity stylist and will see his work on the catwalk at the Great Yorkshire Show next month. HILARIE STELFOX reports

DESIGNER Hardy Punglia creates distinctive and cleverly-cut clothes.

His showroom, The Left Bank, in Huddersfield’s Byram Arcade has rail after rail of garments that illustrate just how innovative and different his designs really are – no mean feat when the High Street is awash with fashion for every possible niche.

"I have learned to evolve with the market," says Hardy, 35, "I’ve found what sells and what doesn’t. A lot of my pieces have unusual designs that reflect my creativity, but they’re wearable."

"Some dresses are cut in single pattern piece," he adds, holding up a lurex jersey mini-dress with a cape-effect back.

Hardy, who still lives in the Highfields area where he was brought up, is one of seven siblings and the only one to enter a creative profession. He made sure that he had a solid grounding in fashion before starting his own business.

Dropping out of a science degree in order to follow his dream, he took an art foundation course at Huddersfield Technical College, now Kirklees College, then moved on to a degree course in fashion design at Northumbria University.

"I think I only went into science because it was expected of me, but I always loved fashion," he says.

Hardy’s CV after leaving university includes a spell as a personal shopper in Harvey Nichols, Leeds, where he got a feel for couture clothing.

At the time he launched The Left Bank, Hardy was doing all the designing and sewing himself.

He made bespoke garments and seasonal designs to hang on the rails, gradually building up a reputation for fashion with a twist and creative tailoring. These days he has a seamstress and a part-time student on the pay roll.

He is also mentoring students from Huddersfield University fashion courses and takes undergraduates on work placements.

His shop has become a focus for young women who want something different for a night out.

He even supplies prom dresses, but says his designs are bought by girls who definitely don’t want a traditional taffeta gown.

Hardy’s business began with one unit in the Victorian arcade, but now occupies two. He designs and sells menswear as well as womenswear.

"The footfall in the arcade is sometimes slow and it’s not easy, but I’m getting there," says Hardy. In fact, his outlet has survived while others in the arcade around him have failed, which says something positive about his designs.