Michael Kahurangi Day is the winner of 2020 Resene Colour of Fashion with Whitecliffe Fashion Tech. His winning look pictured here is in Resene Belladonna. Images supplied.
Usually, the Resene Colour of Fashion designs created by Kiwi fashion students are a highlight of the Resene Designer Runway shows at New Zealand Fashion Week. As 2020 has not been a usual year at all, NZFW didn’t go ahead but the 2020 Resene Colour of Fashion collection did, taking to the runway at the 2020 Whitecliffe Fashion Shows in Auckland and Wellington this week.
The project has helped launch the careers of some of our nation’s talented fashion students over the years as 16 finalists are chosen to create unique designs in colours that feature in Resene’s rainbow of hues. The winner of the competition is gifted a sewing machine, pair of engraved shears and fabric vouchers to the value of $1000 by Resene.
Last night at the Whitecliffe Fashion Show at Auckland Town Hall, in front of his peers, tutors, family and industry guests, emerging fashion designer Michael Kahurangi Day (Ngāti Kuri) was announced at the 2020 winner of the Resene Colour of Fashion after the rainbow of designs took to the runway. The second Whitecliffe show will take place tonight at Pipitea Marae in Thorndon Quay, Wellington.
Michael Day’s design features military style elements like cargo pockets and silhouettes from clothes worn by revolutionaries and while he’s a big fan of black, purple is Michael’s favourite colour. The young Pakuranga designer was pleased to open his randomly selected brown paper bag to find silk fabric in Resene Belladonna, when the project began back in March.
The 2020 Resene Colour of Fashion finalists are:
Auckland
Bowie Boonram
Lucy Zhao
Michael Day
Davina Fernandes
Lesieli Tonga
Kim Talava Keil
Sa Nay Ma
Fatima Rozi
Zoe Patterson
Wellington
Javier Aranas
Natacha Wendt
Sjaan Hopman
Kelly McCullough
Jessica Edwards
Tahlia Pratt
Kate Tillard
The sixteen finalists’ garments will also be appearing on vibrant posters, giving a splash of colour to Auckland and Wellington streets in the lead-up to Christmas.
Appropriately the design theme for this year’s competition is New Beginnings with the brief given to the students reading: ‘bring the positive emotion you felt as we emerged out of lockdown to your design; moving out of darkness into light; entering a slower, kinder, gentler, lighter world; appreciating connection with others; and looking towards brighter days ahead.’
After the stress of lockdown and the upheaval of that time, tutors said the students found the design project cathartic. For many the process of recalling their lockdown experiences released a flood of feelings that were sewn, pinned, pleated, embroidered and shaped into their garments, each in a unique response to the project’s theme.
Since it began seven years ago over 200 fashion students have taken part in the Resene Colour of Fashion project. It is a highly visible platform in the fashion industry thanks to the partnership between New Zealand’s leading paint and fashion education companies.
The judging panel for 2020 saw Dame Pieter Stewart, founder of New Zealand Fashion Week joining alongside New Zealand Fashion Museum curator Doris de Pont, founder of NZ Fashion Tech (now Whitecliffe Fashion Tech) Val Marshall-Smith and Resene marketing manager Karen Warman.
The standard for the competition is very high every year but this year the judges agreed that these garments were the finest examples of high quality design and construction the Resene Colour of Fashion project had seen in seven years.
“With the challenges of 2020 and without New Zealand Fashion Week as a showcase, we’re pleased we forged ahead after postponing twice,” says Karen Warman of Resene.
“Every year we love seeing creative young people immerse themselves in their Resene colour and produce a stunning look. This year their work combined new elements: a new brief, their Resene colour, their lockdown experience, their fashion inspiration, the people who have influenced them most in their lives and the guidance of their talented tutors at Whitecliffe.”
Whitecliffe Chairman Feroz Ali adds, “We treasure the long-standing partnership with Resene. Each year, the Resene Colour of Fashion project offers an incredible opportunity for Whitecliffe Fashion Tech students to showcase their skills to industry, family and friends.”
Congratulations to winner Michael Day and all of the Resene Colour of Fashion finalists for 2020.
By designer Davina Fernandes, Auckland (left) and Lucy Zhao, Auckland (right).
By designers Bowie Boonram, Auckland; Lucy Zhao, Auckland; and Zoe Patterson, Wellington.
By designers Michael Day, Auckland; Kim Talava Keil, Auckland; and Kate Tillard, Wellington.
By designers Jessica Edwards, Wellington (left) and Sa Nay Ma, Auckland (right).
Images supplied.