A TAVISTOCK businessman has saved the day by stepping in to help a special fashion project let down at the last minute by a sponsor.
Colin Peck of Tavy Textiles stepped into the breach when Nicky Goldsmith of Bere Alston told him second year students at Plymouth College of Art and Design had run into problems.
The students had planned to design and make tailor-made clothes for a group of Down's Syndrome residents from a home in Chudleigh.
But disaster struck when the original sponsor, who was to provide the fabrics, pulled out.
In desperation she contacted Mr Peck.
He said: 'I have known her for many years — as a last resort she came to me and asked for help.
'I said OK, really to help the cause. We are giving all the fabrics she needs to make the garments, except for the haberdashery and linings.'
Mr Peck said he estimates he is sponsoring the project to the tune of about 90 per cent of the total cost.
'I'm just doing her a favour to save the day really,' he said.
And yesterday (Wednesday) the men and women from the Rivendell home were due to come to Tavistock to choose their dream fabrics.
Nicky, who is the costumier at Morewellham Quay, said she was 'absolutely delighted' at the offer from Tavy Textiles.
'When the firm bailed out we were left high and dry, but now we're back on course,' she said.
'The point of the project is that Down's people are a different shape to us — they find it difficult to find clothes they really like.
'They have chosen their ideal outfit and they will have it purpose-made for them,' said Nicky, who has made all the patterns and 'toiles'.
Toiles are the garment made roughly out of calico, to make sure that the pattern works, firstly so it looks like the design and secondly to fit the client so it's tailor-made she said.
When the clothes are finished, the college is to treat the 12 men and women to a make-over and photographic session, including new hair-styles and make up.