When Thread met designer Sandra Tupu at the AUT Rookie show last year, we were very impressed – especially as she studied while raising four children- and on Friday she won the top two awards at Westfield Style Pasifika Fashion Awards…
When Thread met designer Sandra Tupu at the AUT Rookie show last year, we were very impressed – especially as she studied while raising four children – and on Friday she won the top two awards at Westfield Style Pasifika Fashion Awards.
Sandra’s three piece collection, Tatau, constructed from a variety of materials including recycled cotton flour bags found in antique shops, old picnic and army blankets, merino and calico, took out the Westfield Style Pasifika 2010 Supreme Award and her menswear design of the same name got Runner-Up.
"The art of tatau (Samoan tattoo) is deeply embedded into Samoan culture and history and my collection explores this. It’s part of my heritage, my inspiration and my passion,” Sandra said of the winning designs which feature interesting fabric draping and innovative use of natural materials such as antique flour bags, army blankets, calico and merino wool.
“The traditional shape of the tatau, when unwrapped from the body represents the Pe’a – the Samoan flying bat. I took the physical bat shape and played around with it – creating some interesting drape shapes in parts of the garments. Drape is generally only used in women’s wear so it was a real challenge to keep a masculine look,” she said.
“The designs have lovely paletted colours – very earthy. The whole look is quite slouchy and very wearable” said judge Liz Mitchell.
Judge Denise L’Estrange-Corbet from WORLD said it was unprecedented that a designer had taken out both the Supreme Award and Runner Up. “It shows the strength of the collection. She was a stand-out winner,” she said, “Her garments were modern, had quirky twists, which we always like, and blended together really well. It was a very commercial collection. It could be put straight into a store, and will sell, and that is what it is about".
Tupu (45) is mother to four children (aged 10, 14, 16 and 19) and graduated from the Auckland University of Technology in 2009 with a Bachelor of Design majoring in fashion and specialising in menswear.
“I was an at-home mum for a long time but have always been interested in design and fashion,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of my clothes since I was young – my grandma and my mum taught me. I wanted to retrain when I lived in Melbourne and started a diploma over there but made a serious decision to study again when we moved back to New Zealand. While the kids were at school there was an opportunity for me to take three years out and finally do it.”
The Supreme Winner takes away $3000 in prize money and two return tickets to the Pacific on Pacific Blue. The runner-up wins $2000 in prize money. Each category winner receives $1000.
Winners and runners up in each of the 10 Westfield Style Pasifika New Zealand Fashion Awards categories:
Supreme Winner
Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)
Runner up
Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)
MAC Pasifika Body Art
To be confirmed
Youthtown Traditionally Inspired
Winner: Lindah Lepou & Louina Fifita (Mt Eden, Auckland.) Garment modeled by Westfield Style Pasifika Model Search winner, Brooke Evaga.
Runner up: Kohai Grace (Porirua)
Resene Asia Pasifika
Winner: Vanessa Roscoe (Mangere, Auckland)
Runner up: Margaret Lewis (Westmere, Auckland)
MAX Three Piece Collection of Day Wear
Winner: Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland)
Runner up: Blaire Archibald (Mt Eden, Auckland)
NZAF Pasifika Hero
Winner: James Leuii (Westmere, Auckland)
Runner up: Naomi Spicer & Terry Whaitiri (Parnell, Auckland)
Flava Urban Street Wear
Winner: Margaret Lewis (Westmere, Auckland)
Runner up: Fa’afoi Robyn Seaso (Porirua)
Barkers Pasifika Menswear
Winner: Sandra Tupu (Titirangi, Auckland) Intro image above.
Runner up: Amber Bridgman (Dunedin)
getfunkd Hutt Evening Wear
Winner: Sharah Friis (Tauranga)
Runner up: Hayley Erasmus (Mt Maunganui)
Pacific Blue Pasifika Bridal
Winner: Debra Laraman (KatiKati)
Runner up: Visesio Louis Thomsen (Manurewa, Auckland)
Te Puni K?kiri Parent & Child
Winner: Erna Van Der Wat (Rothesay Bay, Auckland)
Runner up: Hannah Blackburn (Palmerston North)
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