Te Mata School’s senior students will be cutting sewing, gluing and designing their way onto the Raglan Art to Wear catwalk at the Raglan Town Hall in June.
Around 30 students are taking inspiration from the big top and the environment for the popular wearable art show.
Under the creative guidance of teacher Amy Hanna, the young designers have entered the Kaitiakitanga section (stewardship of the environment and resources) and Circus circus – children’s section.
In charge of art at the school, Amy says the competition is the perfect opportunity for students to have fun with fashion.
“The curriculum is a lot wider now that we don’t have National Standards and we have more time for art.”
The fashionistas are sourcing material for their designs from op shops, Kaahu’s Nest, David’s Emporium in Hamilton and from what they can beg, borrow and steal from home.
“The lady at Xtreme Waste thought I was a bit weird when I asked if I could rummage through the milk bottles,” young designer Maria Grilli says.
The budding stylists started working on their designs at the beginning of March and Amy says they will be working on their creations right up to curtain call.
“We will really ramp it up next term.”
“If you have entered before or seen the show and thought I can do that, or are completely new to wearable arts, then 2018 is your year,” organiser Jean Carbon says.
“We get fantastic sponsorship from the local community. The event is deliberately planned for winter to attract visitors to the town when it’s quiet, although it wasn’t always that way – it was originally the grand finale to the annual arts-focused summer schools based at the Old School Arts Centre in Stewart Street.”
Raglan Art to Wear is on Saturday, June 2 at 2pm followed by the adult’s awards presentation at 7pm with the children’s awards presentation held on Sunday, June 3 at 2pm.
The five sections for Raglan Art to Wear 2018 are Circus circus for children only and the open sections are Paua Power – colour, Up cycled – recycled, Heads up – mystery box and Kaitiakitanga – stewardship of the environment and resources for future generations.
Janine Jackson
Download an entry form at raglanartscentre.co.nz/raglan-art-to-wear-biennial/ or contact Jean 825 8877 or raglanevents@xtra.co.nz.
