Creative students put their retail skills to the test for this year's NFW 2015 Window Competition.

Twelve teams of City College Norwich students had to come up with their own ideas to transform the windows of retailers dotted around Norwich.

Last Thursday night saw Norwich Fashion Week return with a vibrant splash of colour and some throwback looks from the seventies.

The winners of the window competition were announced as Aluna J with students Grace Smith and Shannon Ritchie.

Their theme was 'up', which meant plenty of balloons and sky-blue colours.

Lisa Reeves, Visual Merchandiser for John Lewis and member of the judging panel, said the pair won the competition because a clear story ran through out and it was an innovative and eye catching display.

She added the display represents the store brand and feel very well and there is a strong use of print and colour.

This year, the competition had no rules so the students could exercise their creative freedom in whatever way they wished.

Mrs Reeves said: 'I really enjoyed seeing all the ideas that the students had come up with, some of the stores' windows were a challenge to dress as they were not all fashion based shops. So the students had to come up with a way to promote Norwich Fashion week by using existing window kit or by creating their own props for example a swing, some speakers and posters.

'Overall the standard of dressing was really good but the winning window design really stood out for me as it had impact and enticed you into the shop, the idea of 'floating above the clouds' worked well as it linked in with the shops existing kit and enabled you to see through the clouds into the shop.'

Shannon Ritchie, of Harleston, is on the ABC Fashion Retail course at the college and said she had never done a window display before.

She said: 'It was really fun creating the designs then seeing it in the shop. Aluna J were really supportive and really liked the idea.

'It's really good for my experience to do this. My family and friends are really happy we won. They went to have a look and they were really impressed by it.'

The students won the opportunity to style a photoshoot for Norwich Resident.

Norwich Fashion Week is sponsored by Norwich BID and The Norwich Resident magazine.

Do you have a Norwich Fashion Week story you want to share with us? email sophie.biddle@archant.co.uk