Fashion students 'stars to watch out for'

EIT Tairawhiti fashion students have shown themselves to be stars to watch out for.

The 11-strong group hosted their inaugural Fashion Fusion end-of-year show before a sell-out crowd, hot on the heels of many of them being named as finalists in the Cult Couture Fashion Design Awards last month.

Fashion tutor Gretchen Ivess says her tight-knit bunch of students are more talented than they even they probably realise.

The students project managed the fashion show, from the smallest early details, right through to the last, seeing to details including catering, branding, seating, ticketing and more.

"That's a big ask when you are also actually part of the show," says Gretchen. "The students drew on one another's strengths and all of them really stepped up to the mark."

And it proved a winner.

The crowd adored the show and the students thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of putting on the show.

"They all said how much they had learned, including how to operate best in sometimes stressful situations."

Jemma Green won the award for the garment with the most commercial potential.

All of the students had said just how much they enjoyed their year.

"It's beyond words really," says Gretchen. "I think all of these students are brilliant - they've all worked very hard and been a real team right through."

She has no doubt those who are returning next year to continue their studies will become mentors for new students enrolling in the popular course.