THIS year’s X Factor has been a showcase for both local singing talent and fashion design.

Early in the series we got to see boy band Nu Vibe, featuring Lowerhouses' Ashford Campbell and Jordan Higo, of Crosland Moor.

Then Ashford was chosen to replace a member of The Risk during the live show stage.

Also featured on prime time television along the way were T-shirts by Huddersfield entrepreneur Benaiah Matheson and trousers by fellow Byram Arcade fashion designer Hardy Punglia.

Hardy had known for some time that the stylist for boy band JLS was buying his distinctive trousers but was still thrilled to see them worn when the band appeared as guests on one of the recent shows.

Benaiah, who runs The Connoisseurs Independent Trading Post, was equally delighted to see Ashford wearing one of his trademark T-shirts at the second stage auditions and performance.

The 26-year-old, from Highfields, is an artist and fashion designer.

He opened his outlet in the arcade a year ago and mainly sells printed T-shirts.

Benaiah studied graphic art the John Moores University in Liverpool and it shows in his work.

His shop is embellished with a ‘scribble’ drawing created from two continuous lines.

He comes from a creative family – his mum is an in-store designer for Laura Ashley and his father is a bespoke joiner.

“I could draw as soon as I could pick up a pencil,” he says.

His first fashion venture was a range of babywear, which is now sold out.

He’s currently focusing on the T-shirts and is planning to open a screen-printing workshop, where customers can come and print their own.

“This is such a great place to be for artists and designers,” he says.

“When I came back from Liverpool I was amazed by the amount of creativity going on in Huddersfield.”