Massey Uni Fashion Graduation 2013 showcase featured forty collections of work from the University’s four LAUNCH shows, each titled: Track, Play, Focus and Pause…
On Saturday 16th November I attended the 2013 Massey Graduate Fashion awards and showcase evening in Wellington. The showcase featured forty collections of work from the University’s four LAUNCH shows, each titled: Track, Play, Focus and Pause.
Prior to the show, attendees crowded around the Hall where we applauded finalists nominated for the awards. Blood, sweat and tears is a given when it comes to graduate collections, however the diversity and creative expression here was notable.
A few of my favourite collections were:
Deadlock by Sophia Deans (below); a representation of a designer’s inner fight between creative satisfaction and societal awareness.
Modern Haute by Soontariya Utto (below), in which she gives haute couture her own modern twist by using designs that translate a contemporary essence to fashion.
METAMORPHOSTITCH by Anna Hicks (below). The garments in this collection are made from second-hand materials through both traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Her collection is a reaction to the mass market and goes against conventional ideas of craft as a domestic hobby.
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Series Two: Sleep; Sean Kelly’s menswear collection, focused on tailored garments and knitwear, inspired by the feeling of “an island-like existence”.
NONA by Frano Turner. This collection is made up of contrasting fabrics, layering and simple silhouettes. Art installations played a major role in inspiration.
There were other collections that didn’t make it to the finals but really stood out to me, such as:
Olivia Riley’s Handle Repeat (below), a hand-dyed and fully knitted collection of silk merino yarn that focused on obsessive ritual, repetition, and compulsion. Photography Rosie Finn, model Caitlin Sanderson, make up Aleisha Findlay, hair Jodi Pullar at Willis York.
Frances Jenkins’s ‘On the Grid’ (below) referenced the sensory experiences of hypnagogia, through elements such as print and shape. Model Sequoia Etti, photography Alissa Corbett.
Gemma McRobert’s collection ‘Refracted’ used strong lines, silhouettes and fabric opacities to convey the journey of light as it travels through different mediums.
There was so much talent at this showcase; yet another example of the creative melting pot that is Wellington. The best thing for me about going to graduate shows is that you get to witness New Zealand’s future fashion pioneers at the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
Read below for the list of award finalists, and to view more collections head to http://creative.massey.ac.nz/study/exposure-2013/
Bachelor of Design (Hons) Diploma in Fashion Design and Technology and their three nominated finalists:
Rembrandt Award for Excellence Awarded to the student who has the top marks for their collection:
Sean Kelly, Lucilla Gray, Soontariya Utto.
Charles Parsons Technical Excellence Award awarded to the student who has the top marks for patternmaking and construction:
Carmen Kingston, Soontariya Utto, Helena Terry.
Knifekut Achievement & Dedication Award awarded the student who has demonstrated achievement and dedication to their studies during the year:
Tasha Smith, Anna Hicks, Zara Parmenter.
John Rainger Vilene Best Use of Product Award awarded to the student who has written the best report on the use of interlining in their project:
Genevieve Small, Helena Terry, Anna Hicks.
Kirkcaldie and Stains Creativity & Innovation Award awarded to the student who shows the most creativity and innovation:
Lucilla Gray, Kayla Christensen, Isabel Lopez Barrera.
Purfex Design Award Awarded to the student who has the top mark in design:
Sean Kelly, Max Mollison, Lucilla Gray.
Harry’s Commercial Design Award awarded to the collection with the best commercial design:
Chloe Bush, Lucilla Gray, Sean Kelly.
The Kate Sylvester Award For Design Excellence awarded to the student showing excellence in design through innovation and creativity:
Lucilla Gray, Sean Kelly, Soontariya Utto.
NINETEEN//46 by Silverdale Knitwear Award Incorporation of knit award:
Anna Spicer, Chloe Bush, Abby Mattock.
Knifekut Achievement & Dedication Award awarded the student who has demonstrated achievement and dedication to their studies during the year:
Brandon Aitken, Erin Tomlinson, Frano Turner.
The Fabric Warehouse Design & Innovation Award awarded to the diploma student who has demonstrated a high level of design and innovation in their collection:
Brooke Hammond, Rosie Pert, Brandon Aitken.
John Rainger Vilene Best Use of Product Award awarded to the student who has written the best report on the use of interlining in their project:
Brooke Hammond, Yuyan Zhang.
Booker Spalding Ltd Award for Excellence awarded to the students who has the top marks across the programme:
Yuyan Zhang, Erin Tomlinson, Rosie Pert.
Creative HQ Business Award (open to all students) Awarded to the student that has demonstrated the highest level of understanding / aptitude for the business of fashion through the commercialisation of their designs and/or the establishment of an apparel business:
Greer Rose, Jack Hill, Georgia Whelan.
Show credits:
Hair: Willis York by Bex Brent and team using L’Oreal Professionel
Make-up: Freelancers and Weltec students and graduates: Kirsten Williams, Mackenzie Boddington, Jackie Nichol, Bek Holmes, Regann Rees-Henry, Samantha Danes, Holly Carstens, Amy Doolan.
Story by Reema Alfouir
Catwalk photography by Hannah Masters
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