AUT Rookie impresses fashion A-listers
It was standing room only last night at AUT Rookie 2009, when AUT University fashion students showed their final collections on the runway. Fashion insiders, the media, designers and their families and friends crammed into St Pauls Church to see 22 collections take to the catwalk.
Stunning surprises came in the form of Ostrich leather jackets (Meghann Hemmings), body altering neoprene (Jacenta Kwan) and fluid feminine shapes (Simone Hine, Michaela Inger). Natalie Allingham offered a contemporary take on the art of smocking, and colour blocking was key in several collections, including Binna Lim, Cait Farrow and Megan Lowe.
Priyanka Pereira drew from her Indian heritage, with a collection inspired by the riches that can be found amongst poverty. Other womenswear influences included the 1930s (Abby Davidson), religion (Celia Phillips) and Maori aesthetics (Adrianne Whitewood). Olivia Benefield explored motherhood with unique prints and Reiko Fukuda considered the move from childhood to adulthood, topping structured undergarments with sheer chiffon.
Layering was an important theme (Ana Vemic), as was the idea of elongation (Alana Bishop). The graphics of the 1980s made an appearance in knitwear by Haylee Barry, and Lan Ching Fu played with the fusion between jewellery and fashion, to stunning effect.
Menswear got a makeover, including collections inspired by progression (Blaire Archibald) and the Samoan tatau (Sandra Tupu). Sara Wilson showed severe, oversized menswear pieces and Victoria Green’s collection featured foxes and hunting references
Two honours students also showed: Glenn Yungnickel stunned the crowd with his raspberry menswear and Alysha Gover showcased innovative fashion inspired by the craft of knitting.
Additional Rookie fashion will be on show in the Rookie Fashion & Costume Exhibition, 13 and 14 November at the AUT School of Art & Design.