We've all had mornings when you wake up with the irresistible urge to leave home just rolled up in your bedsheet.

The next time this happens, take a leaf from the book of these Raffles Design Institute (RDI) students.

Twenty-five students from the class of 2008's Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design were each challenged to create a runway-ready dress out of bedsheets.

'They had to create original garments using the basic shape of the bedlinen, while keeping (the sheet) as intact as possible,' said Professor Giuseppe Spinelle of RDI.

And if this Project Runway-worthy challenge was not tough enough, the students could sew only one seam onto their designs to create the basic shape for their gown.

This meant they had to drape, pleat and ruche to structure and shape their dresses.

The students battled it out on the runway at The Centrepoint last month where they each presented their couture-type gowns made out of Robinsons-sponsored bedsheets.

The competition was co-organised by The Centrepoint, Robinsons and RDI in an effort to promote youth development in the arts.

Student Shannon Lee, 21, took the top prize of $2,000 worth of The Centrepoint shopping vouchers. His winning design, Hybrid, which was constructed out of a Sheriden bedsheet, was inspired by 'chinoiserie flowers and the detailing of European corsetry'.

He said he drew inspiration from novels about the Orient, like Memoirs Of A Geisha and Madame Butterfly.

The top 12 designs were on display at the Robinsons household department after the competition.

SLEEPING BEAUTIES: (From left) Second runner-up Lim Kah Ying's design, Mixture; first runner-up Ega Rismaladewi's Lust Captivation; winner Shannon Lee's Hybrid.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Apr 24, 2008.