RENOWNED Welsh fashion designer Julien Macdonald is set to officially open the hotly-anticipated new Debenhams store at Friars Walk, Newport, on Thursday 12 November.

Julien has dressed some of world’s biggest stars including Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé and Selena Gomez and is famed for his high octane glamorous designs.

His best-selling Star by Julien Macdonald collection for Debenhams takes influence from his catwalk collections but is adapted for the high street shopper.

To celebrate the new store opening in Newport Julien Macdonald and Debenhams has partnered with the University of South Wales, where Julien is an honorary fellow, to launch a competition to uncover a rising star of fashion design.

Debenhams will be offering fashion design students the opportunity to win an internship, plus a £500 Debenhams gift card.

The students have been tasked with creating a six-piece capsule collection for Star by Julien Macdonald embodying Julien’s own creative and glamorous aesthetic.

Julien and a special judging panel will choose a winner who will be announced at a special event at the new Debenhams store on November 11 and one winning outfit to be displayed within the Newport store in 2016.

The store’s newly appointed manager Clare Filer said: “The team are thrilled that such an internationally-recognised designer with roots in Wales is coming home to officially launch the new store.

“The students at the University of South Wales have been given a very exciting task and we cannot wait to see the finished results and display the garment proudly within our store.

“We are proud to be opening a store at the Friars Walk development in Newport and be part of the massive regeneration which is transforming the city. We cannot wait to welcome all our new customers into the store on Thursday November 12.”

Irene Dee, course leader for fashion design at the University of South Wales, said: “We are delighted to be working with the iconic names of Debenhams and Julien Macdonald to mark the opening of Friars Walk. The competition will give our talented students the opportunity to work on a live brief.”

“We centre our teaching of Fashion Design on the realities of the industry, and have constant engagement with employers. This latest partnership is the perfect chance for our talented students to show future potential employers what they can do.

“We aim to raise their expectations and their ambitions to achieve mastery in their discipline, and I am sure that their competitive spirt will shine through in this competition.”

The new store will showcase Debenhams’ exclusive designer ranges from fashion designers such as Jasper Conran, Ben De Lisi and of course, the stylish collection from South Wales native, Julien MacDonald.

Debenhams will be the anchor store of the new £90m, 390,000 sq ft Friars Walk retail and leisure scheme, which is being developed by Queensberry Real Estate and built by Bowmer and Kirkland in Newport city centre.

Stuart Harris, commercial director and co-founder of Queensberry Real Estate, said: “Queensberry Real Estate was delighted to facilitate this partnership arrangement between Debenhams and the University of South Wales. Community engagement and participation plays a key part of our marketing and communications strategy for Friars Walk.

“This marks the start of a series of opening events working with key partners across the city including the city council, Newport Live, Newport County and various community groups to really celebrate the opening of Friars Walk at 10am on November 12.

“ We have a really exciting event programme spread across four days which includes dancing, street theatre, performances from Ballet Cymru, live music and great competitions as well as the opportunity to shop and dine in a brand new shopping centre. Keep following us on social media as we unveil details of events and chance to win some fantastic prizes.”