Marist Student Wins Newmarket Young Designer

Media release

Newmarket Business Association

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Click to enlarge 2009 award winner Nicole Petra Wesseling with award organiser Lea Worth.

Sixteen-year-old student Nicole Petra Wesseling from Mt Albert's Marist College has won the supreme 2009 ‘Looking to the Future - Newmarket Young Fashion Designer Award.’

The young Aucklander has taken out the nationwide competition, winning a trip for two to New York flying Qantas with four nights accommodation courtesy of Business World Travel where she will work back-stage at Karen Walker's showing at the New York Fashion Week in February 2010 as we'll as $1,000 spending money.

She has also won a 12-month scholarship with Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design to attend its BFA Year One Certificate of Arts and Design Programme, and a two-week 'Taylor' internship in the Taylor Design Workroom.

Blair Wheeler, also 16, of Glendowie's Sacred Heart College was 1st Runner Up, receiving a $1,000 prize donated by The Greg Whitecliffe Memorial Charitable Trust and Servilles. While two 17-year-olds tied for 2nd Runner Up: Duncan Lamont Brown of Whangarei’s Kamo College, and Gemma White of Iona College in the Hawkes Bay, each took away a $250 cash prize and $250 Centrepoint Voucher.

Five of the 35 finalists were awarded Highly Commended: Tess Florence Landon Lane (17) of Marlborough Girls College; Sarah Hynes of Auckland (18); Bridget Daulby (16) of Iona College; Zoe Ellis (16) of Diocesan School for Girls; and Ruby Porter (16) of Northcote College.

Westlake Girls' High School student Annabelle Fitzgerald (16) won the People's Choice Award taking away $500, while Gemma White of Iona College also won the Creative Journal Award ($250).

"The judges were blown away by the detail and the sheer craftsmanship of Nicole Petra Wesseling's design and her ability to interpret the brief which was to take inspiration from 18th century fashion. Nicole Petra's design took an 18th century African twist and the judges loved it.

“It's an amazing achievement given the talent from the 68 initial entrants from around the country. Her trip to New York Fashion Week will be truly life changing," says Lea Worth, award organiser and marketing manager of the Newmarket Business Association.

Ends

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