Hokonui Fashion Awards

Event Photography, my pix & words from the 2010 Hokonui Fashion Awards in Gore.

When I found out the Hokonui Fashion Designer Awards were to be held at the Gore Town & Country Club, I immediately imagined a fashion show at the A & P Showground complete with a few prize bulls pouting numbers in stockades next to the models. I wondered – what could this little South Island town show us about Fashion? Well, I was in for a treat. Gore pulled out all the stops and held a fantastic event with over 700 fashion hungry guests flocking to attend and there was not a bovine in sight.

The event organisers pride themselves on giving creative people of all ages the opportunity to show their design talents on the catwalk, and this year entries were accepted from New Zealand, Australia and as far abroad as India.

There was a stellar line up of industry leaders invited to judge this year and I didn’t envy their job of having to select the category winners from over 200 entries. The judges for 2010 included Theresa Brady from Doosh and Sable & Minx, Adrian Hailwood, Anjali Stewart from the cult label twenty-seven names and co-founder of label World – Denise L’Estrange-Corbet.

The next 3 hours saw a stampede of designs, from floaty sheer silks, above the knee stockings, antlers and even wool packing bails. The biggest theme of the night was candy floss, teased hair styles and Egyptian style eye markings.

Patricia Johnson

Merran Brady

Regina Shirl

First out of the gate was Alysha Glover winning the Streetwear award.

Nicola Smith with her denim lattice effect lace up bodice and skirt won the NuDax Denim section.

The SIT Wool Section winner was Bay of Plenty Polytech’s Head of Fashion – Debra Laraman with a stunning black crochet garment.

The Kiwiana section saw Jeannie Dyer winning with her one piece patchwork dress and jacket made from wool.

The Doosh Collections award winner was Lillian Mulholland with a youthful street chic style set off with ethnic accessories.

Laura Marshall from Otago Polytechnic won the Menswear Award and Pip Stevenson’s floaty orange/brown and teal retro dress won the Heartland Nightlife Award.

Candice Fulton picked up both the Young Designer and  Avante Garde awards for her suede dress with layered neck ruffles and antlers.

Finally the award of excellence went to Alysha Glover from AUT for her polo neck, printed one-piece knit paired with very cute leg-warmer stockings.

All this going to show that the Hokonui Fashion Awards allows New Zealand designers  is a great breeding ground to cultivate their craft. Roll-on next year’s awards.