Rip it, paint it, brand it – create the coolest T
UCOL has launched its annual Design a T-shirt competition – and this year it’s been extended to secondary school
students in the Wairarapa and Horowhenua.
The competition, previously only open to students from schools in the Whanganui and Manawatu regions, has been a bit hit
since it was introduced two years ago.
Last year the number of entires more than doubled, to 160.
Whanganui UCOL External Relations Coordinator Shane Maher says the increasing interest in the competition encouraged the
organisers to extend it to schools in the Horowhenua and Wairarapa regions, as well as Manawatu and Whanganui.
“It’s a competition that has big appeal for students. A T-shirt is a garment they all know, wear and love. This gives
them an opportunity to use their own ideas and creativity to create their own T, as well as the chance to win
recognition – and prizes – for their work,” he says.
“Students can do anything they like with their shirt. They can cut it, paint it, screen print it, brand it, attach
things to it – the possibilities are endless.”
Students are also asked to supply a 20 word explanation of the inspiration behind their design, and who would want to
buy it.
Whanganui UCOL distributes plain white T-shirts to school textile and technology teachers, to be handed out to the
students who want to take part. This year the competition will have two rounds, with deadlines in June and August,
allowing different students to participate.
The competition is sponsored by the Whanganui School of Fashion and head Sally-Jane DeSalazar is the judge. The winners
will be announced at a cocktail party in Wanganui in September.
A selection of the T-shirts will go on display later in the year at Whanganui UCOL and UCOL in Palmerston North and will
also be shown at student fashion events in both cities.
The finalists will appear in the July and September issues of Tearaway magazine – and there will also be Tearaway
Readers’ Choice special prizes.
ENDS