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UCOL shows its street smarts
Media Release
12 November 2013
UCOL shows its street smarts
A Whanganui UCOL Fashion Lecturer has proven she has the resourcefulness to survive in an urban environment.
Sue Walker, a Fashion Lecturer on Whanganui UCOL’s Certificate and Bachelor level Fashion programmes, won the Streetwear category in Auckland’s Cult Couture Fashion Show recently.
Cult Couture is a runway show, fashion awards and one of the centrepieces of the annual Southside Arts Festival, a council initiative that celebrates Auckland’s Maori and Pasifika arts and culture. The competition is open to students, graduates, professionals and artists.
Ms Walker says her garment ‘Streets Ahead’, influenced by architecture, was designed and constructed as part of a Structural Design research project. “I experimented with the building of the garment. It incorporates industrial features such as clean lines, and custom made silver metal zips to accentuate the intersecting sharp angles found in architecture.
“It was very exciting to win as it reinforces that all the hard work I put in for my project was worthwhile.”
There were five Cult Couture categories: Recycled Revolution, Formally Yours, Flight of Fantasy, On the Streets, and Pacific by Nature.
Ms Walker’s winning garment was undoubtedly made with the streets in mind, using fabrics such as linen, cotton and silk to allow for breathability, comfort, moisture absorption and sun radiation protection.
Inspired by thoughts of architecture being a shelter, the dress has a draped panel that emerges from an angled seam.
Second year Whanganui UCOL Bachelor of Fashion student Allie Buckley came runner-up in the same category – On the Streets.
Second year Bachelor of Fashion students enter the Cult Couture competition each year as part of their Whanganui UCOL programme. This year nine students entered the competition.
The competition judging panel featured the elite of the New Zealand fashion world, including Canvas fashion editor Dan Ahwa, Fashion Museum curator Doris de Pont and designer Adrian Hailwood.
ENDS
Notes:
Whanganui UCOL’s Bachelor of Fashion is a three year degree that explores the fashion design process from concept to garment creation.
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