Brother Design Star Shines Bright at NZ Fashion Week

MEDIA RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL12.30 PM

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2016

Brother Design Star Shines Bright at New Zealand Fashion Week

An emerging shining light of New Zealand fashion has been awarded top honours in this year’s national fashion and craft competition, Brother Design Stars.

Napier teen Sophie Parsons (17) was announced supreme award winner ofBrother Design Stars 2016 at the inaugural New Zealand Fashion Week Graduate Show supported by Brother today.

The Brother Design Stars competition, now in its third year, encourages students in school years 7 to 13 to enter one of two award categories – fashion or craft. The theme of this year’s competition was Shine Bright.

Twelve finalists from around New Zealand had their creation modelled on the runway at the New Zealand Fashion Week Graduate Show today. Every winner in the competition received a first-hand taste of what it means to be a designer at New Zealand Fashion Week, not only seeing their creation in lights, but receiving a behind the scenes experience and special backstage access as a Brother VIP.

Brother Design Stars supreme winner Sophie Parsons says the design and construction of her winning ensemble of a softened silk jumpsuit with crisp white knit jacket featuring chunky handwoven wool sleeves was inspired by Greenlandic Inuit people, with a back-to-nature theme.

“The culture of Greenlandic Inuit people is to live close to nature, working with the natural elements. By living in harmony with nature and working together in communities, Inuit’s are sustaining a no-waste natural existence,” she says.

“I feel that this way of living is being lost in modern life. It is a way of life I believe in and wanted to be true to when selecting the materials and design elements of my outfit.”

Sophie incorporated the competition theme of shine bright into her garment through the use of texture, colour, shimmer and shine.

“The jumpsuit has been made from silk and knit fabrics allowing light to be reflected and shadows to be cast. The contemporary drop crotch legs in contrast with the fitted body demonstrated how the same fabric has been used in different dimensions to capture light in a unique form. The centre-back gold plated zip gives a dominant feel to the jumpsuit and contrasts with the softly-quilted hem, which shines bright with the texture,” she says.

“Shine Bright is executed on the back of the jacket, as the eye represents the world shining as one. Beads, sequins, fabric painting, embroidery, quilting and studs have all been used to reflect and catch the light to promote a major message that ‘the world shines bright’.”

Competition judge Kayla Jurlina, designer for COOP by Trelise Cooper says Sophie’s entry was true to the competition theme of Shine Bright, her love of nature shining through her creation in both design and her use of textiles.

“Sophie’s entry displayed such maturity; it was not only beautifully created, but the design clearly reflected her admiration for the Inuit people and their culture of living with nature. Brother Design Stars is such an amazing opportunity for her and the next generation of aspiring designers to showcase their talent on a national stage,” she says.

Sophie was thrilled to be announced Supreme Award winner of Brother Design Stars at the event today.

“I’m absolutely delighted to win this prestigious award. It has been an amazing opportunity to come to New Zealand Fashion Week and meet the designers who have been such an inspiration to me.”

Another winner in the fashion category (year 7-9) is Rabab Ghuman (13) from Papakura who won with her beautiful two piece costume inspired by the traditional Indian Lehengas.

Winner of the craft category (year 7-10) was Ella Flowers (13) from Kapiti, whose metallic-gold bag was inspired by the lyrics in the Rihanna song ‘Diamond’, ‘shine bright like a diamond’.

Janet Lee (20) from Rotorua won the craft category (year 10-13) with her dazzling bohemian-style bag that incorporated floral and leaf shapes using beads and embroidery threads.

All four winners receive a Brother Sewing Machine of their choice, travel and accommodation to Auckland to attend the New Zealand Fashion Week Graduate Show; and ‘a-money-can’t-buy’ experience of behind the scenes access to the show.

ENDS

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