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In a first for Southland, winners of the 2023 Hokonui Fashion Design Awards strutted the catwalk at NZ Fashion Week 2023.
About 150 people including several Southlanders attended a runway show, at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre on Saturday, and Hokonui Awards Convenor Jacqui McKinney said it was fabulous to be involved in the auspicious event.
“It’s our first ever show at NZ Fashion Week and we’re excited to have been invited. It’s an extra extension for our emerging designers to be involved.
“Being here is also a wonderful way to shine a beacon on the beauty and creativity of the Hokonui Fashion Awards.”
Designers from across the country, including Gore, Balclutha and Roxburgh, travelled to Auckland to attend the event and mingled with the audience after the show to discuss their garments and the design process.
“Logistical it has been tricky getting the garments transported to fashion week, but since we’ve been here the support from event organisers had been amazing,” McKinney said.
Southland models Annalisa McConachie, Beth Coghlan and Sophie Cupit, travelled to Auckland to walk in the show.
Avante Garde award winner Debbie Smith, of Gore, was also there to see her design walk down the catwalk.
“Fashion week has been a wonderful experience,” she said.
Several Southlanders were also in the audience, to support the Southern contingent in Auckland, and we’re hopeful they could return in 2024, to celebrate Southern creativity alongside the best in the country.
