Kaylee Powell's Whangarei beginnings are sewn into her silk showstopper chosen for the opening three shows at New Zealand Fashion Week.
Ms Powell's jewel-hued turquoise dress is one of 16 students' works made from 80 metres of glistening silk in Resene paint colours.
Taught to sew by her neighbour while growing up in Whangarei, Ms Powell first interpreted her paint colour, She'll Be Right, literally - basing it on the word "right".
"I started out with right angles and then played with line and shape to achieve asymmetry," she said.
"I gave my garment depth by pleating and layering the fabric, creating shadows and bright highlights."