Models Strut Their Stuff For Top Designers

AIR NEW ZEALAND FASHION WEEK 2004

Models Strut Their Stuff For Top Designers At Model Casting

Heavy rain didn’t deter the hundreds of models who turned out in the weekend for a chance to grace the catwalk during Air New Zealand Fashion Week in October.

More than 200 hopefuls, female and male, turned up bright and early to the model casting held at the Hilton Auckland on Saturday morning.

They strutted their stuff in front of an audience of about 30 designers and their production teams, who were there to choose models with the right 'look' for their shows

The auditions gave the design teams the opportunity to observe New Zealand’s best models in one place, at one time.

Unique to the New Zealand collections, the auditions are intended to be a one-stop-shop for the designers, said Air New Zealand Fashion Week Managing Director Pieter Stewart. “Bringing all the models together like this makes it much easier for them.”

Ms Stewart said the challenge for designers is to choose models who complement not just the unique look of their garments, but the style or theme of the show they are creating.

“The number one thing is that they’ve got to look gorgeous. But they’ve also got to have a great walk and have got to fit the concept of the show too,” said designer Kate Sylvester.

Air New Zealand Fashion Week needs more than 200 models for its 30-plus shows spread over four days from 18-21 October.

As many as 30 models are needed for individual designer shows. Time spent in hair and make-up means models cannot do adjacent shows, so designers must get in quick to secure those models in hot demand.

Six of New Zealand’s top modeling agencies put forward their best talent for the casting which started at 9am and ran until midday.

Strong media interest saw more than a dozen media turn out to photograph the casting.

Next in the diaries of Fashion Week models are the model workshops being run by renowned New Zealand model Angela Dunn.

Here especially for Air New Zealand Fashion Week, Dunn will run special workshops for models prior to the collections giving them a unique opportunity to learn tips from one of the best in the business on how to make the most of a designer’s garments.

These workshops are scheduled for October 11 and 12.

Ends –

About Air New Zealand Fashion Week:

Air New Zealand Fashion Week unites the finest of New Zealand fashion and showcases it to the world. In just four years, the event has delivered significant trade opportunities for New Zealand fashion’s inherently indigenous take on urban style.

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