Rookie student provides good reason to keep that shirt on

Sherie Muys' reshaping of a male staple was a cut above the rest

Good ideas are just hanging around the house and they can be the ticket to a life less mundane.

That's the experience of student designer Sherie Muys who has won a trip to London from inspiration she found in the laundry. Muys coupled the fluid movements of garments hanging on the line with the tailoring of men's shirts to present a mini-collection that this week saw her named the 2006 Deutz Fashion Design Ambassador.

The annual award, held in the lead-up to Fashion Week, gives an up-and-coming designer a study trip overseas and to also see their designs shown on the runway at Fashion Week.

For Muys, there will be two chances to catch the eye of a critical audience next Friday. Her three Deutz entries will be presented first and, a few hours later, she and 27 fellow third-year students of AUT's bachelor of design (fashion) will be part of the Rookie show. The show gives students about to embark on a fashion career a taste of what is required to cut it in the industry. Muys will show the same garments, styled differently at each show, in a modern take on men's shirts restyled into women's wear. The 20-year-old says the idea behind her designs is to give a feminine sophisticated twist to a male staple.

"Come Saturday morning, the wife, girlfriend or lover borrows the oversized garment to wear."

She is influenced by Japanese design and likes to mix classic references with the unpredictable. The industry judges also cited her mini-collection's refreshing wearability and chose her ahead of three other finalists who were interviewed to better determine their potential, after the work of 42 entrants was assessed. As part of her prize, Muys can request to work with a designer of her choice in London and is hoping for a placement in February, ideally with Paul Smith.

"Last year's winner got to work with Vivienne Westwood, so I see the win as a huge privilege and opportunity," said Muys.

She will return to Auckland where she hopes to hone her technical and creative skills in a workroom before looking to launch her own label.

"I love that fashion is forever changing; it keeps me constantly curious about what might be next."

* Friday's Rookie show will be covered by the Herald.

Previous rookies to do well

Danielle Rollo, AUT graduate in 2003, won last year's Deutz Fashion Design Ambassador award. The former assistant to Auckland designer Adrian Hailwood now works for Topshop in London.

Leila Rawnsley-Mason, class of 2005, won the Glassons Breast Cancer Research Trust Young Designer Competition this year and is an assistant to Auckland designer Mala Brajkovic.

Alissa Serdoun, 2004, will show her Serdoun Couture label at Fashion Week next Thursday in the Verge Breakthrough Designers group show.

Olivia Corbett, another graduate, will show her lingerie label Toushe next Wednesday, also as part of a Verge-mentored group.