The Hokonui Fashion Design Awards 2010

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FashioNZ contributor Craig Lawson discovers who scooped the fashion awards in the Deep South.

Outside it was winter cool, but inside it was the fiery hot colour orange that stole the show. It was the 22nd annual Hokonui Fashion Design Awards in Gore and budding designers delivered their vision to a packed house of 700 people on Saturday night.

Auckland University of Technology student Alysha Gover was the winner on the night, taking out the Award of Excellence and the Streetwear Award. Her winning garment was a rustic orange dress that was matched with pure white leggings.

The merino knit dress was intriguing to see on the catwalk, but was not the stand-out piece of the night. However, it was when up close with the garment that its winning power could be witnessed. The black spider-like print and the unique shape of the dress made it an absolute work of art.

Fashion designer and judge Theresa Brady says there is big difference between how they critique each design and what people see on the catwalk. “We get to assess them up close and take into account how well made the garments are,” she says.

Theresa says the judges all agreed on the winning garment as the stand-out piece from the 198 entries in the competition: “We all saw the piece and just went WOW.”

Fashion designer and judge Adrian Hailwood was impressed by the entries and holds a high regard for the awards being open to all ages. “It’s such a great event and awesome for New Zealand fashion,” he says.

Proving that age is never a barrier, Gore grandmother Viv Tamblyn won Best Southland Designer and was runner-up in the wool section.

Invercargill fashion designer Emily Kerse found the experience of being a judge at the awards for the first time, very reminiscent. She remembered back in 2001 when she won an award at the very same competition. “It’s just amazing to be here as a judge and think back to when I was up there competing, it feels so special.”

It was the first year the awards attracted international designers, with three entries from Sydney and one from India.

Event convenor Heather Paterson says it was a fabulous and successful night. “We have so much talent here in New Zealand and it’s great to see the quality of designers we have in this country,” she says.

The growth of the event looks set to continue on an international scale. “We already have people in India wanting to enter next year’s event.”

Article by Craig Lawson

http://craiglawson.net/

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