Fashion designer Colin Wolfenden has teamed up with England striker Michael Owen to net a £1 million deal with a top menswear chain.

The Bingley designer snapped up the chance to work with the soccer ace after an old workmate passed him an opportunity he could not miss.

Colin and the Liverpool striker's business manager Steve Smith used to work together at Bradford-based catalogue giant Grattans when Mr Smith was the merchandise director and Colin was a designer before leaving to make it on his own and start his own brand - Bent And Corrupt - four years ago.

The limited edition, called Ten by Michael Owen, named after the number on his Liverpool shirt, is selling fast in Burton's stores across the UK and there are talks about a new range for next season.

Colin said: "Steve and I have stayed in touch since Grattan and he contacted me because Michael was looking for other avenues to make money - fashion was one of the possibilities and my name cropped up."

Colin met Michael for the first time a year ago to brainstorm ideas for the fashion range and six months later the design work finally began.

All of the items in the collection have a sneaky reference to a part of Michael's life, including Bomber his Staffordshire Bull terrier and Midget Gem, the nickname given to him by his pals in the Liverpool team because of his height and football skills. Key pieces in the collection include a blue V-neck T-shirt with red trim, featuring the number 10 and a patchwork Michael Owen shield, plus his dog's name Bomber.

"I didn't want to come up with designs for him just to put his name on, I wanted a bit of him to come through in the collection so I had to quiz him," said Colin.

"He's a pretty average guy, he's not over the top and doesn't want to stand out in a crowd - unlike Becks - but he still likes to look and feel good."

Colin, who co-hosted Channel 4's makeover programme Fairy Godfathers, said he got a thrill when he spotted Michael Owen on television sporting the casual wear during the Euro 2004 championships.

The player, who is believed to make about £4.5 million a year in endorsements and sponsorships on top of his £2.1 million salary from Liverpool, told the Telegraph & Argus he was very happy with the way Ten worked out.

He said: "I'm very pleased with the way this first range has turned out. Colin has helped to really personalise it. I understand it's selling extremely well."

Owen's Ten collection is expected to stay on the shelves until the end of August but a spokesman for Burton's said it was selling fast.

Frances Russell, Burton's brand director said: "We are very excited about the collaboration with Michael.

"As a football legend at the pinnacle of his career, Michael Owen embodies charisma and a great sense of British style."

Meanwhile Colin, who has just returned from the world's biggest menswear show in Florence, said he had designs on his own route to stardom.

He has been having more talks with TV producers but is sworn to secrecy about the type of shows he could be fronting. But he said his own distinctive label, which was originally inspired by hardmen in gangster films, had to take priority. Bent And Corrupt already hangs on the rails in Harvey Nichols, Seibu in Hong Kong and Fred Segal in Los Angeles.