New Generation group shows are a tough training ground, with young designers vying for attention one after another.
First up was Kathryn Leah Payne from Christchurch, whose preparations were interrupted by the earthquake. She showed a black, fitted collection with lots of leather and a propensity to lace it up the back.
Maaike, a design duo of South Islanders Abby van Schreven and Emilie Pullar, are now Auckland-based, but work mostly with woollies. Their knits were seen to best effect in a graduated speckled effect cream-to-black scarf and The Mummy Striped Sweater Dress, a black cocoon with ribbed hem which featured bold white stripe details they say were inspired by patterns on the outside of a mummy's coffin. The same criss-crossed stripe was used on a man's sweater.
Celine Rita cited 60s Warhol starlet Edie Sedgwick as inspiration, reimagining that the fashion muse survived her heroin addiction and turned into a carefree 70s girl. From mini to maxi then. Celine Rita shaped her a wardrobe with taupe lace blouses, midnight blue velvet pants with a little ruffle flaring out from the waistband, and a bright little floral print jacket.
The print looked a lot like one that figured on Kathryn Wilson's shoes earlier in the day and in the next segment a more muted floral used by Riddle Me This seemed strikingly similar to one chosen by Juliette Hogan and a woven earthy-toned knit twinned with Sera Lilly.
