INDEPENDENT NEWS

All aglow for the runway show

Published: Tue 27 Jun 2017 04:07 PM
All aglow for the runway show
Tickets are now on sale for a high impact runway show in Wellington for the second annual Project Glow Wear reflective fashion design competition. This will be followed by an Auckland show a fortnight later. Each night will see a spectacular showcase of finalists in the competition with winners of the 13 categories announced.
The competition boldly goes where no other has gone before by challenging designers to create reflective clothing and accessories that marry high fashion with high visual impact. All entries must include retro-reflective elements that highlight the wearer as they go about their early morning or evening journeys.
On Saturday 12 August the urban landscape of the Wellington Underground Market will be transformed into a high fashion runway, and then for the first time the show will travel to Auckland for a second dazzling show on the 26th August.
Designers are competing for a $10,000 prize pool ranging from a $500 Levi’s voucher, internship at Mandatory Menswear to a Wacom tablet, a Singer sewing machine, shearing scissors, cash prizes and more. The pièce de résistance is the Arrow Award where the winning entry will be manufactured by the winning designer during a two month paid internship.
Barbara Donaldson, Greater Wellington Regional Councillor and Chair of the Sustainable Transport Committee says the competition is all about illuminating people on foot and bike.
“Project Glow Wear challenges designers and creatives to add a twist to our everyday clothing and accessories.
“The competition aims to grow awareness of the effectiveness of reflective elements in clothing and accessories for increasing the visibility of people out walking, running or cycling at night – particularly when placed on moving parts.
“Feedback on the inaugural competition and Runway Show in 2016 was overwhelmingly positive and showed that reflective clothing can be both fashion forward and visible.”
Designers have until Thursday 6 July to submit their final designs. A number of new categories have been introduced this year including Young Designer and a special category for Menswear. The events will also showcase swatches entered in a Fabric Innovation category where textile pioneers are challenged to create new fabrics made of light activated materials. All New Zealanders over the age of 15 are invited to enter: designers, home sewers, crafters and students.
The fashion world is beginning to explore the possibilities of retro-reflective as an untapped element to incorporate into everyday clothing and accessories. Project Glow Wear’s Pinterest page contains a plethora of reflective inspiration on this front.
The transport teams at Greater Wellington Regional Council, Auckland Transport, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council, Kapiti Coast District Council and Upper Hutt City Council are behind the competition alongside Levi’s®, Arrow Uniforms, Lux Light Festival, Singer™, Mandatory Menswear, the Wellington Sewing Centre, Oversew Fashion, Vespertine NYC and Massey University School of Design.
Last year the project team was blown away by the quality, creativity and wearability of entries received. Highlights included a hot pink PVC jacket with reflective frilling and in-built rear-facing lights, trousers with reflective hems & pocket detailing, an elegant soft yellow cape with reflective detailing and a swathe of innovative accessories for all purposes.
“We hope that the calibre of entries will make judging this year’s entries just as difficult”, says Manager, Sustainable Transport and Project Glow Wear organiser Melanie Thornton.
“With more than a 100% increase in registration for this year’s competition, and early indication of some innovative designs, the Runway Show promises to be a stand out event for design and ingenuity.”
For tickets, entry details and more information go to www.projectglowwear.com.
[end]

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media