A FLEDGLING fashion business impressed judges in a retail competition and will go on to compete nationally.

Odette Rosmarin of Hear 4 Fashion spent two weeks at The Mall shopping centre in Selbourne Walk, Walthamstow, selling hand painted t-shirts, blouses, bath robes and printed silk sheets from as part of the centre's Make Your Mark competition.

She was chosen as the Walthamstow winner and will compete against the winners from the 19 other Mall’s across the country.

The winner will get six months free trading at a Mall, two years free business banking with Natwest Bank, a place on a retail summer school in Oxford and £1,000.

Ms Rosmarin said: “We are thrilled to have got this far in the competition and look forward to being in the National final.”

General manager of The Mall Walthamstow Alasdair Currie said: “This competition is all about nurturing local new business talent, and The Mall Walthamstow is committed to supporting our local independent retailers.”

The finalists will be judged by a national panel including former Apprentice winner Tim Campbell and Ken Ford, chief executive of The Mall.