Judges for Ag Art Wear Rural to Runway Fashion Showcase

Judges announced for Ag Art Wear Rural to Runway Fashion Showcase

The Fieldays Ag Art Wear event is gearing up to be a showstopper. With garments named ‘Barking Mad’, ‘Beauty in Drought’, ‘Butchered’ and ‘The Net’, visitors to the shows at Fieldays and guests attending the fabulous finale Gala Dinner will be treated to a visual feast unfolding before their eyes.

New to the lineup and keen to eye up what comes down the Rural Runway, are four fabulous fashion forward judges; Hayley Fruish and Leanna Buxton, part of the creative team behind the Mt Maunganui footwear label Chaos & Harmony; socialite and fashionista Bridgette O’Sullivan; and local textile designer Marian Manson.

It’s this quartet who will have the enviable task of deciding who will take out the titles for each of the three categories; Avant Garde, Designer Traditional, and newly created Classroom Couture at Friday’s finale – and with a prize pool of $12,000 up for grabs, incredibly innovative outfits are on show.

Hayley Fruish from the Chaos & Harmony duo says they are both very excited about joining the judging panel and lending their expertise to such a well-loved event – especially to see the creative talent that will be on show firsthand;

“We have not been to an Ag Art Wear Rural to Runway show before - but we are looking forward to it! We are expecting to see some very unique uses of rural and natural materials and some very 'out of the box' thinking when it comes to the construction and composition of the garments.

“We will be looking for garments that stand out in terms of material use, creative design, artistic flair and originality. And of course we will have a keen eye on the footwear…”

Bridgette O‘Sullivan is also excited about her place on the panel, saying she has a soft spot for the event.

“I've always been fascinated by the Ag Art Wear competition at the Fieldays and this year I'm most excited to be a judge! I've judged many Fashion in the Field Competitions over the years, so this year to find the winning masterpieces made out of raw materials is going to be quite the challenge.

“I'll be looking for incredibly creative, well made and stylish ensembles that complement the personalities wearing them.”

Finally, Marion Manson joins the lineup once again. With her expertise in textiles, including using natural plant dyes and sustainable methods, Marion’s keen eye will be looking for the ‘X factor’ on the runway.

“As judges we are always looking for designs that have the ‘wow factor’ in garments. We look at the creativity behind each design and the unique use of various ‘rural’ materials. Winners are usually standouts right from the start.”

With 26 entries showing on the runway, including four from Australia, it makes the competition truly international, with the Trans-Tasman battleground set in motion.

Adam Reinsfield, Events Coordinator for the show says that the talent on display is inspirational and that the visions brought to life using such a limited base of materials are truly outstanding.

“Only their imagination will stop these designers realising what they’re capable of achieving with these sometimes very unusual and unruly materials”.

Of the Rural to Runway show, Mr Reinsfield says it will be a contemporary, punchy show with amazing technical elements, a massive soundtrack and loads of energy.

Also featuring at the Rural to Runway Gala Dinner is a special treat for guests with the inclusion of a ‘Fur & Fleece’ Show - a reprisal of stunning fur garment designs that were last showcased at Ag Art Wear in 2008.

The evening event will also feature entertainment from talent duo Wright & Murphy, two highly accomplished singers who have performed internationally and on television, as well as a silent auction to raise funds for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Six day shows can be seen at Fieldays Ag Art Wear Pavillion on E St; Wednesday and Thursday at 11am and 2pm and Friday & Saturday at 11am.

The Rural to Runway Gala Dinner & Awards Show is hosted in the Atrium, Hamilton City on Friday 14 June.

For further information visit: www.agartwear.co.nz

To book tickets to the finale or for further information contact: Mystery Creek Events Centre: 07 843 4497 or email info@mysterycreek.co.nz

New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays will be held 12-15 June 2013 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton. Fieldays is proudly supported by strategic partners - ANZ and the University of Waikato.

The Ag Art Wear concept and competition rights belong to New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays under the registered trademark 'Ag Art Wear'; however a deed of license may be obtained by other New Zealand and international agriculture shows who seek to submit competition entries.

For further information visit www.fieldays.co.nz

ENDS

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