Challenging year produces fashion triumphs

Rococo Dress by Anna Powell (Year 1 Diploma)

For immediate release – 30/11/11

Challenging year produces fashion triumphs

The pressure is on as CPIT fashion technology and design students present their collections to the fashion industry this Saturday 3 December. Collections by the 2012 Westpac Young Designer of the Year Georgia Currie and winners from the Hokonui Fashion Awards are just some of the highlights of PITCH 2011, CPIT’s annual fashion showcase.

From conceptualising designs and making garments, through to selecting models and choreographing, the fashion students must apply their skills to every stage of the production. The result is a spectacular, exciting and well produced night of fashion filled with innovative ideas and accomplished ensembles from the future fashion designers and technicians of New Zealand.

“We are so proud of our students this year, especially the third years who are presenting their second complete collection for the year and have reached such excellent standards. Interestingly, you can see some influences from the earthquakes subtly coming through in some of the collections, while others have gone completely against those influences,” Fashion Programme leader and tutor Niki Chrisp said.

“Our graduates are very well regarded by industry and I think this year’s graduates bring an extra resilience and dedication to their work because of the experiences they have faced and overcome this year,” she said.

The fashion students continued working on their mid-year DEBUT show and then on PITCH through temporary relocation to CPIT’s Madras St campus where they shared facilities with the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art. CPIT’s Fashion School was released from the emergency cordon in time for semester 2.

PITCH is a popular industry event, well supported by local designers. This year the event has attracted Francis Hooper from World, Vicky Taylor from Taylor and Belinda Bond from Postie Plus to judge the CPIT Design Excellence Award.

CPIT’s fashion training, including the Certificate and the Diploma in Fashion Design and Technology, are known as highly technical programmes that prepare graduates with the skills and confidence to contribute to a fashion workroom from day one. This approach has seen CPIT graduates move into successful careers with established labels and launch original labels. MisteR, by graduates Mickey Lin and Ra Thomson, is one such label that gained prominence this year by earning a rare standing ovation and grabbing headlines at New Zealand Fashion Week.

Working around the temporary loss of the Isaac Theatre Royal, where PITCH was held last year, the Creative Industries faculty at CPIT has organised two shows at 6.30pm in the Rakaia building and CPSA building and two shows at 9pm in the same buildings.

Tickets for PITCH must be booked as shows are likely to sell out, and are $30 (students $22), available from www.ignition.ac.nz. Parking is available on CPIT campus - entrance from Barbadoes St and Madras St.

ENDS