On Monday 11 July at The Showgate, Riccarton Park 7-9pm, a unique exhibition will open to the public for a one-night only event. Third year Fashion Design graduates from the Design and Arts College of New Zealand (D&A) will be exhibiting a diverse range of garments consisting of a 10-outfit industry ready collection. This event is open to the public, D&A invite you to attend.

The event is the culmination of months of tireless work, creative problem solving and overcoming the massive setback of relocating due to the damage to D&A’s building and facing the prospect of losing their year’s work after the February quake.

These students then had to face the reality that their final year’s work was trapped in the red zone, through sheer determination, lobbying and a lot of letter writing, their efforts were to no avail, but red tape was not going to stop these students. One of the graduate’s fathers, a civil engineer came to the rescue and with his help two students and the Fashion Programme Coordinator gained a 45 minute window of opportunity to access the damaged building and rescue some of their precious garments.

The students have overcome adversities and worked tirelessly in their new environment at the Halswell rugby league rooms, which is being used as temporary premises. The graduates’ ongoing goal was to complete their 10-outfit collection, find new models and complete their portfolios.

“The seven final year graduates have shown an incredible amount of resilience, patience and determination during these trying times. They have been through a lot, but rather than think negatively, they continually find the silver lining; they can’t wait to show everyone what they have accomplished,” says Fashion Programme Coordinator Trudi Fraser.

Graduates have produced a great variety of garments including 3 individually themed collections; a 3 outfit mini collection consisting of one natural, sustainable and recycled themed collection, one pattern print and texture collection, and one fabric manipulation collection as well as an Avant Garde piece which showcase their creativity, individuality and innovation. Each student has taken on a theme to base their unique collections around, including the 1930’s depression, 20^th century fashion history, witchcraft, phobias, nostalgia, 1940’s women in a mans world and the holocaust.

Some of their stunning works will be in a mini display at Sassys Of Merivale’s window the week prior to the exhibition (1-10 July). Head along for a sneak preview at some of the creations you could expect to see at the Mode Démêlé Graduate (Fashion Unravelled) Fashion Exhibition on 11 July 2011.

D&A would like to thank the team at Riccarton Park and Sassys Of Merivale for the support given to the Fashion Design students and this event.

For more information please contact:

Emma Gray

Marketing Coordinator

Design and Arts College of New Zealand
166 Kendall Ave P O Box 539, Christchurch
Tel: +64 3 3651578
Fax: +64 3 3792310
Email: emma.gray@dac.ac.nz