War And Peace Creation Wins Young Dio Student Top Fashion Award
A stunning feather and satin creation inspired by a war and peace theme has won a 15-year-old Diocesan School student
the top fashion prize in this year’s Young Designer Awards.
Nicole Pollard was the overall Category Winner of the Fashion Design section as well as winning the Evening Wear section
for her Intermediate age group in the awards which were announced this month.
Her prize for winning the overall award from around 270 fashion entries from all age groups is a Bernina Activa sewing
machine worth more than $2000 from major award sponsor Bernina and a five day internship with a leading New Zealand
fashion designer.
“I am so over the moon and I am still taking it in because usually the overall award goes to one of the senior
students,” says Nicole.
The Year 10 Diocesan student was one of several at the all-girls independent Auckland school who were rewarded for their
efforts when they entered the Young Designer Awards – a national design competition open to New Zealand intermediate and
secondary school students which is in its 17th year.
Nicole’s winning outfit was a black satin military style jacket with tails, a tulle skirt with layers of white feathers
and a satin waistband and a matching satin bodice with a sweetheart neckline and feathers over one side.
Judging co-ordinator Adele Wilkinson says Nicole’s entry stood out from around 270 entries in the fashion section of the
awards which also included fine arts, communication design, living environment and product design categories.
“The level of expertise for an intermediate student to be able to come up with that design, put it together and present
it in the sophisticated way that Nicole did was absolutely outstanding.”
Nicole says her three inspirations were doves, ballet and military style clothing.
“I have always really wanted to work with feathers because they look amazing. I started doodling and came up with a war
and peace theme that incorporated the feathers, the pretty feminine look of ballet and the military aspect,” she says.
Nicole says she suggested to her parents three years ago that she should take up sewing when she knew that they would
not want to keep up with her expensive taste in clothes.
She was given a sewing machine for her birthday and, with the help of an aunt who “is a really good sewer”, she hasn’t
looked back since.
“I have a real passion for fashion design. I started taking fabric technology at school this year and I would love to
get into the fashion industry.”
Her Young Designer Awards prize includes a certificate and the chance to do a five-day internship with a New Zealand
fashion designer.
“I have been told to send in the names of six different designers. My list is Karen Walker, Stolen Girlfriends Club,
Lonely Hearts, World, Zambesi and Trelise Cooper.”
Other award winners included Dio student Olivia Cashmore who won first place in the High St and International Brands
section for her Intermediate age group.
Georgette Pollock-Johnson won second place in the Evening Wear section of her Intermediate age group and Clarie Gorinas
won third place for the High St and International Brands section of the same age group.
In the Intermediate age group, Charlotte Robinson was highly commended in the Evening Wear, High Street and
International Brands sections, Kelly MacDonald was highly commended in the Evening Wear section, and Olivia Labb was
highly commended in the Costume, Wearable Art and Culture section.
ENDS