Paige Randell models Tegan Winter’s Puritan Winter – a nod to Amish, puritan and pilgrim style.
How fashion communicates identity was on show at the IDEAschool Arts Festival 2018 Fashion Show on Thursday night.
Seven graduating one year fashion diploma students, two second year degree students and two graduates shared their ideas on identity. The influencing themes were as diverse as the garments.
Power, puritanism, Siamese glamour, street skating, Scottish, Welsh, Lebanese, Parisian, Korean pop culture with a touch of
Designer Michelle Courtney (centre) with Grace Hawke (left) and Raelinda McCraken. Her Time Travellers’ collection mixes Asian culture and Steampunk.
steampunk, deep sea, Māori and sustainability inspirations all took their place on the runway set up in EIT’s Trades building.
“While the runway is what people think about as fashion, it is so much more than that,” says Cheryl Downie, EIT fashion programme coordinator. “There’s a solid career to be had in fashion and our students cover so much in their studies. The fashion show is the spectacular conclusion to that work.”
Guest designers, EIT fashion graduates Bex McNeur and Te Orihau Karaitiana have each established their own brands. They’ve been using the marketing
and business skills gained at EIT to help them grow their labels that feature organic and ethical practices at their heart.
In addition to basic production skills, pattern making, construction, and psychology of fashion, students were encouraged to consider how they connected with the ultimate wearer of their garments, explains Cheryl.
Digital marketing is a big part of what they need to know, given how powerful social media channels are now in influencing trends and fashion choices. “They need to discover how they can be followed to grow their presence.”
Around 300 people attended the fashion show that was part of the first-ever IDEAschool Arts Festival that saw all four strands of the school – art and design, music, fashion and screen
Nasheka Thomson models a garment from Shanyce Thomson range An Leubail – Gaelic for Thomson the Label.
production – combine on the Hawke’s Bay campus on the same night to celebrate student successes.
Serah Russell, Te Ana Mataira, Terina Anderson model Felicity Potae’s Pikake (peacock) collection that reflects the influences of Tane Mahuta (God of forests and birds).
Designer Vanessa Simpson (second left) with models (from left) Lisa Sommerville, Tracey Hill and Julie Chamberlain. Kaleidoskate is a street skater inspired luxe collection.