20th Hokonui Fashion Design Awards

The 20th Peugeot Hokonui Fashion Design Awards were celebrated in Gore with two key events held over two nights on 25 and 26 July.

This celebration of fashion began Friday evening with the ‘Strictly Design’ show that attracted an audience of 500, while the Gala Awards held on the Saturday evening ran to an audience of 100. Both shows featured not only the competition garments but included the announcement of the winners as well as showcases of designs from top New Zealand designers.

From nightlife through to streetwear collections, menswear, knitted, wool, denim and kiwiana, the audience were shown the amazing design talent of amateur designers of all ages from throughout New Zealand.

The judging panel of Rex Turnbull, Margi Robertson, Liz Findlay, Michael Pattison and Annah Stretton had the unenviable task of not only selecting section winners but identifying the top Young Designer and the Overall winner as well.

New Plymouth’s Grace Baker took out the Southland Times Young Designer Award while the Overall Award of Excellence valued at over $10,000 went to Christchurch Polytechnic student Robyn Webb, whose winning design had also won the Streetwear Award earlier in the evening.

Awards convenor and executive producer Heather Paterson was delighted with the way both evenings had gone. “We have had fantastic support from designers, sponsors and the public, all who have ensured that the 20th Anniversary was the best we have had. These awards are the longest running of their type in the country and I firmly believe that this is largely due to the amazing support we get from our volunteer helpers, our sponsors and the public who attend the Awards.”

Mrs Paterson also said that another highlight this year had been having the ability to donate more than $2,500 to breast cancer research.

2008 Winners

STREETWEAR:
• Robyn Webb - Christchurch

KNITTED:
• Alana Gibson - Wellington

DENIM AWARD:
• Andre Tamblyn - Gore

WOOL AWARD:
• Megan Woodhouse - Christchurch

MENSWEAR AWARD:
• Sophie Hardy - Invercargill

COLLECTIONS AWARD:
• Holly Perniskie - Dunedin

KIWIANA AWARD:
• Christine Webb - Gore

NIGHTLIFE AWARD:
• Alexandra Kneebone – Auckland


Merit Awards:
• Rexy Sung - Wellington
• Anna von Hartitzsch - Wellington
• Amy van Luijk - Wellington
• Samantha Croft – Lower Hutt
• Wendy Phizacklea - Dunedin
• Melanie Yin - Auckland

Annah S: Garment with Most Commercial Potential:
Nicole Hamilton - Dunedin

Charles Parson Best Use of Fabric:
Robyn Webb - Christchurch

Merino Shop Tarras Best Use of Yarn:
Julie Cuthill and Georgina Henderson - Invercargill

Newslink Southland Designer Award:
Sophie Hardie - Invercargill

Southland Times Young Designer Award:
Grace Baker – New Plymouth

The Ensign Award of Excellence:
Robyn Webb - Christchurch