The first full day of New Zealand Fashion Week 2017 saw designers push the boundaries to present their clothes in less than predictable ways.
Designer Rachel Mills started the day with a 'live installation' on site at the Auckland Viaduct Events Centre, which saw media, buyers and clients having to walk between stationary models wearing pieces from her Autumn/Winter 2018 collection, as opposed to sitting comfortably front row.
Always full of surprises, the New Generation group show this year was true to form as it showed off the fresh talent of four budding designers. Geoj Official kicked off the show with flouncy flamenco-style dresses in black polka dots, followed by Luke Dawson, who accessorised his cheeky, cartoon-laden streetwear with skateboards. The sheer black organza, swishy pleats and forest green velvet pieces by Pania Greenaway offered up a darkly feminine mood. Not For You rounded out the show with utilitarian menswear pieces layered over slouchy hoodies - models holding cardboard signs featuring scrawled statistics on the state of homelessness in NZ.
It was the eight dancers from the Royal New Zealand Ballet who really brought an elegant new energy to runway, however, in a dynamic collaboration with designer Andrea Moore. Dancer Shaun James Kelly choreographed a routine to launch Moore's new fitness and swimwear range. The dancers - who are all performing tonight in Romeo and Juliet - enjoyed the novelty of being made up. Marie Varlet said: "Usually we just get ready by ourselves". The hair, created by Sara Allsop of Dharma, was a back plait into a take on a ballerina bun with crystals clipped in.
