Girlfriend People’s Choice Award winners announced

Media Release October 2 2013

DIVERSE YOUNG DESIGNERS WIN PUBLIC VOTE
Girlfriend People’s Choice Award winners announced

Two impressive entries from rural Kiwi culture to high-end costume design, have won the people’s vote in the 2013 Youthtown Creatifs Young Designer Awards.

From over 500 public votes, 14-year-old Charlotte Calder, of Dunedin, has won the Girlfriend People’s Choice Award for the AUT Wearable Art category. Eighteen-year-old Lauren Christies Millar, of Hamilton took out the AUT Fashion Design category.

The Youthtown Creatifs Young Designer Awards invite talented young designers and creative artists, aged 13 to 18, to submit a wearable art or fashion design garment in categories sponsored by AUT University.

The Girlfriend People’s Choice Award was launched on Facebook in September to encourage the six finalists to share their achievement with friends, family and their schools.

Lauren’s entry in the AUT Fashion Design category was a uniquely designed jacket, influenced by the creative arts and her passion for costume design.

“I adore a good movie or play but always find myself distracted by the amazing costuming. This jacket represents both my ‘character’ and my love for fashion,” Lauren said.

“The Youthtown Creatifs Young Designer Awards was a fantastic creative outlet for me and I will definitely be using this award as part of my portfolio to get into a diploma in costume construction next year,” she added.

Charlotte’s winning Wearable Art mask for the Girlfriend People’s Choice Award was inspired by rural New Zealand.

“I’m so happy that everyone voted for me,” Charlotte said. “My inspiration came from Central Otago landscapes, the Maori and Pakeha cultures of our country and from my mother’s artwork, which I have always looked up to.”

Both Girlfriend People’s Choice Award winners have won a Brother Inkjet multi-function printer (value $299.95) and a six-month subscription to Girlfriend magazine.

Thirteen-year-old Jessie Cartmell, of Seatoun, is the Youthtown Creatifs Supreme Winner for the AUT Wearable Art Award with her ‘Family Tree’ mask.

Sixteen-year-old Natasha Wall, of Masterton, took out the Youthtown Creatifs Supreme Winner title for the AUT Fashion Design Award with a Victorian-inspired ready-to-wear outfit.

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

YOUTHTOWN CREATIFS 2013 WINNERS AND FINALISTS

AUT Wearable Art Award:

SUPREME WINNER – JESSIE CARTMEL (SEATOUN, WELLINGTON)

Highly Commended – An Egyptian-inspired falcon mask was given special commendation by the judges in the AUT Wearable Arts Award category. Created by 17-year-old Amber Jobbitt from Okaihau, the three dimensional mask was hand crafted using cardboard, bandages and traditional Aztec coloured paint.

GIRLFRIEND PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER – CHARLOTTE CALDER (ROSLYN, DUNEDIN)

FINALISTS – Miya Austin-Dobie (Marlborough), Antonea Saada (Miramar, Wellington), Charlotte Calder (Roslyn, Dunedin) and Tyler Bartlett (Takanini, Auckland).

AUT Fashion Design Award

SUPREME WINNER – NATASHA WALL (MASTERTON)

GIRLFRIEND PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER – LAUREN CHRISTIE MILLAR (FAIRFIELD, HAMILTON)

Finalists – Evelyn Taylor (Hikurangi), Fern Anderson (Porirua), Lauren Christie Millar (Fairfield, Hamilton), Sophie Rutherford-Smith (Remuera, Auckland) and Angela Seol (Havelock North).

Judging panel

• Ingrid Starnes – Fashion Designer

• Fifi Colston - Wearable arts designer / TV Presenter / Writer

• Andreas Mikellis - AUT Head of Department (Fashion & Textiles)

• Louise Logan – Girlfriend magazine Fashion Editor

• Sarah Burren – Costume designer

About Youthtown

Youthtown is a non-profit organisation set up to inspire young New Zealanders to reach their potential and be the “voice” of New Zealand youth.

Since opening its doors in 1932, Youthtown has grown and evolved into one of New Zealand’s leading youth organisations. It’s highly regarded for championing positive youth development through its own branches and in the communities Youthtown supports.

Youthtown currently operates eight branches in Auckland, Taupo, Wellington, Christchurch and Oamaru. From these locations, it offers many positive youth programmes after school and in the school holidays.

Whether out on the water, in an art studio or on the basketball court, each Youthtown programme is designed to build self-esteem and confidence through participation.

Website: www.youthtown.org.nz

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