FASHION students have created a set of historic and contemporary costumes inspired by women who lived in a smugglers home in the Borders, renowned for its dark secrets.

Fashion technology students at Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles and Design have designed 12 historical costumes and 12 contemporary garments based on women linked to Gunsgreen House in Eyemouth, Berwickshire.

The designs will go on display at an exhibition, The Women of Gunsgreen House from Friday, 11 April until 3 November 2014.

The show takes place at Gunsgreen House, built by a local smuggler and merchant John Nisbet in the 1750s, complete with several secret vaulted cellars where Nisbet hid his smuggled goods.

The costumes and contemporary pieces each tell a story about the personalities of women connected to the house. Students have ensured that the craft and traditions of the time period are represented as authentically as possible.

Students were coached by fashion designer and teaching Fellow in Fashion Technology at Heriot-Watt’s Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels, Bruce Roberts.

He said, “This project has been a wonderful source of inspiration for our students who want to go on to work in the fashion world. They’ve successfully demonstrated strong skills in pattern development, draping, drafting, textiles and fashion history.

“I’d encourage people to come along to the exhibition where they’ll see 24 distinctive and imaginative designs, created for women who were connected to Gunsgreen. The designers each had their own individual approach for developing their character that they imagined would have lived in the house at this time.”