Recycled raffia tops Cult-Couture awards

Media Release

11 November 2009

Recycled raffia tops Cult-Couture awards

A gorgeous, monumental gown of black raffia has seen Auckland designer Lindah Lepou take out the premier prize at the Villa Maria Cult-Couture 09 fashion awards.

Manukau’s annual fashion event attracted artists and designers from across New Zealand. Organised by Manukau City Council and sponsored by Villa Maria, the awards saw 90 garment designs featured in two shows held last week.

Entered into the Recycled Revolution category, Lepou’s winning garment was inspired by New Zealand’s unique Pacific identity and the challenges we have with recycling man-made products such as plastics and glass.

“Eco Chic is all about making the most of what we have and what we can afford,” says Lepou, the designer of Polynesian couture label Dencium Compri.

With environmental issues and sustainability being a common catch-cry these days, it’s an appropriate message whole-heartedly endorsed by category sponsor Manukau City Council Waste Management.

Manukau City Council Waste Manager Patricia Facenfield says every time we recycle, we give an everyday item a new lease of life.

“The simplicity of the recycled material was wonderfully constructed into a winning striking garment.”

The 2009 Manukau Designer Award went to Visesio Louis Thomsen of Manurewa for his garment Lava Princess. The captivating garment was in the Obviously Organic category and the design was inspired by the 1905 volcanic eruption of Mt Matavanu in Samoa.

Judge Rachael Churchward noted that the fashion entries showed a definite step up from previous years.

The judges and full-house audience were entertained by a theatrical evening, with a ‘Paris is Burning’ theme that included outstanding vocal performances from Taisha, Cherie Mathieson and Anna Hawkins.

The event’s six fashion categories were generously sponsored by Datacom, Cut Above Academy, Davis Langdon, Manukau City Council Waste Management, Armourguard Security and Downer EDI Works and Meredith Connell.

ENDS

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