- By Times Junior Journalist Tinkle Ding
The Aotea Centre in Auckland CBD came alive with colour, creativity and celebration as the recent annual TOI Wearable Arts Showcase lit up the stage with a dazzling display of student talent.
The highly anticipated event drew crowds from across east Auckland and beyond, with young designers transforming the runway into a moving gallery of imagination and cultural storytelling.
Schools from across Auckland participated including Bucklands Beach Intermediate, Botany Downs Secondary College, Howick Intermediate, Kristen School, and dozens more that had students that represented them outstandingly!
For two unforgettable hours, students from across the region floated down the catwalk in handcrafted garments, each one a unique piece of wearable art that blended fashion with fantasy.
The showcase featured entries from four key themes: Imaginary Friends, Crafted Couture, Rewind Time, and Stories of the South Pacific, alongside an open category that encouraged students to let their creativity run wild.
Each prompt offered a distinct challenge and creative direction.
Imaginary Friends brought childhood companions to life, from whimsical monsters to beloved dolls, while Crafted Couture pushed students to innovate with materials, whether through intricate hand-crocheted pieces or eco-conscious, recycled designs.
Rewind Time transported the audience through history, evoking eras from the elegance of the Victorian period to the raw, primal stylings of the Stone Age.
Meanwhile, Stories of the South Pacific paid homage to Aotearoa’s rich cultural heritage, showcasing traditional Māori weaving and garments that told ancestral tales through texture and form.
More than just a fashion show, the event was a heartfelt celebration of youth creativity, resilience, and storytelling.
Each piece reflected countless hours of dedication, late-night designing, and the courage to share personal visions in front of a live audience.
As the final models left the stage and the lights dimmed, applause filled the auditorium, echoing the pride and admiration felt by families, friends, and art lovers alike.
The TOI Wearable Arts Showcase once again proved that when young minds are given the space to create, the results are nothing short of inspiring.
- Pupils at two east Auckland schools were among those named the event’s ‘Stars of the Night’. Savanna Robinson, Maggie Leckie and Fenix Wong of Beachlands School received special mention for their work Bear, as did Pakuranga College’s Coley Tang, Saralee Van Wyk, Joy Pfister and Leo Pryor for their creation The House that Grieves.
- Tinkle Ding is in year 8 at Bucklands Beach Intermediate School.
