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Three little black dresses

Little Manc Dress

What is the Little Black Dress event?

"Little Black Dress event I started in 2002 out of the desire to have fashion designers use their creativity towards a good cause, and what better piece to challenge them than with creating their perfect little black dress, because it is such a staple in a woman's wardrobe.

"Every woman should have their own little black dress in their closet, if not two or three or four or five! So I really felt that would be a great place to start and it's just taken on a life of its own."

This is the first time it's come to the UK...

Mancunians Gorgeous Couture's creation

"It's the first time it's come off American soil. It's been a huge event and a massive success in Los Angeles and New York, and I was looking for the right place to do my international debut of the gala.

"In scouring the globe and looking at my options, I first wanted to go to an English speaking country, because it's already hard enough to organise an event overseas without a language barrier. So it narrowed down to between the UK and Australia.

"I went to a couple of spots in the UK with alternative fashion scenes that I really thought were interesting, and Manchester won me over."

What was it about Manchester that won you over?

Plastique's Little black dress

"First and foremost, Manchester is already world famous for its music scene, and oftentimes music and fashion go hand in hand.

"In coming here and comparing it to other cities like Glasgow, I saw there was a built in infrastructure for designers to succeed. You have designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Matthew Williamson, who've really made a splash on the international fashion scene, who are from the North-West. So I really felt that Manchester was the perfect place to hold the event."

There are new North-West talents in amongst the 30 you've chosen to show at the event, including Manchester's Gorgeous Couture. What do you think of their dress?

"I absolutely love Warren Bardsley and Gorgeous Couture. They participated in the event in Los Angeles last June to help promote the event in the UK, and everyone was absolutely stunned with the dress he produced. In fact it was so successful for them that it what they are calling their own perfect version of the little black dress."

It's the 80th anniversary of the original little black dress. Why has it become such an important fashion icon?

"I think the little black dress is a great fashion item, because it's always appropriate and it's always chic. No matter where you go or what you're doing, a little black dress always fits the occasion.

"It's a real universal piece. Whether the event is in the UK, Australia, Germany or Moscow, it doesn't matter, the little black dress really crosses borders and languages and it is a fashion staple. It's something people can keep in their wardrobes forever."

The Little Black Dress gala is at Urbis on Saturday 25 March. It is followed by an exhibition of dresses at the venue which runs from Saturday 8 April to Sunday 21 May.