CPIT Fashion Students’ Strong Debut from Shaky Beginnings

CPIT Fashion Students’ Strong Debut from Shaky Beginnings

Amongst the colourful ‘Madmen’-era 50s dresses, gothic cowgirls, sculptural flares and tarot-inspired prints that will grace the runway for Debut 2011 on 9 July is an equally stunning but more sombre collection.

Holly Choie‘s ‘Abducted 2012’ is the CPIT fashion student’s creative response to earthquakes - the ruins, the lack of freedom and the enforced sense of change.

“It is dark and gloomy with earthy tones, and it’s asymmetrical to reflect the architectural disarray. My target market is Christchurch-based, so they will relate to it!”

The Diploma in Fashion Technology and Design group has overcome massive challenges to finish their collections of eight to ten outfits. D�but is a showcase of technical skill and creativity working to briefs directed by the students’ internship partners such as Juliette Hogan (Auckland), Therese Rawsthorne (Sydney) and Stolen Girlfriends Club (Auckland).

Students completed their internships soon after the February earthquake, with the exception of Holly who wanted to stay in Christchurch but found that local designers were in no state to take on an intern.

Programme leader and tutor Niki Chrisp is astounded by all of her students’ ability to carry on despite the practical and personal challenges. “I could not fault these students. They lost people in February, they had homes demolished. Most of them are in their early 20s and for that age group they are showing such maturity with the way they are working to finish their collections,” she said.

After February the School of Fashion building on High St remained within the civil defence cordon while most CPIT programmes returned to normal. Fashion students were relocated to CPIT’s Sullivan Ave trades campus and then to the Madras street campus. Industry partners stepped forward to support the embattled class of 2011, but practicalities such as sourcing fabric became difficult in the post-earthquake environment.

The 21 June earthquake set schedules back again causing students more reorganisation as Debut was postponed to 9 July and relocated to CPIT’s Atrium building. Makeup artists, models, hairdressers and photographers all had to be rescheduled. Despite everything, the collections are stronger than ever according to Chrisp. “There’s some interesting stuff this year I must admit. I can literally go around them all and I would take one or two pieces from each one that I would happily wear.”

CPIT’s Certificate in Fashion Technology and Design and a Diploma in Fashion Technology and Design are held in high regard by the fashion industry. For more information contact 0800 24 24 76 or see www.cpit.ac.nz/subjects/fashion.

ENDS