A talented east Auckland fashion student has wowed the judges at the recent Resene Colour of Fashion competition.
Among the finalists is 19-year-old Flat Bush local Keisha Duong Kheav, who studies at Whitecliffe College’s Manukau campus.
Described as the biggest day of the students’ academic year, judging day delivers the energy, challenge and reward of the industry the students will graduate into at the end of the year.
Twenty-two Whitecliffe students studying for the Diploma in Fashion from three campuses presented their designs to the judges.
Each garment was meticulously crafted from silk twill dyed in new Resene fashion colours.
Thirteen finalists were then selected by the competition judges, with seven from Wellington campus and six from two Auckland campuses.
For her design Keisha found inspiration in the phrase: “When life gives you lemons make lemonade.”
“This project means so much to me because I see it helping me pave the way through the fashion industry,” she says.
“The great opportunity of being able to partake in something so big and sentimental really inspires me to further my study in fashion.”
The butterflies on the white walls of the studio, where judging took place, illustrated this year’s design theme, Colours of Change, and reflected the legacy Resene and Whitecliffe have built in 12 years, giving hundreds of graduating students a head-start in the industry.
Since its inception in 2014, Resene Colour of Fashion with Whitecliffe has supported students in their final year of a two-year Diploma in Fashion.
The students were asked to reflect on the world around them, the changing colours of their lives, their experiences, choices, challenges and the people who helped guide them towards fulfilment.
The design brief states: “This theme highlights the changing colours and the ebb and flow of life, focusing on the power of learning, resilience, and transformation, much like nature’s rich and ever-changing tapestry.”
Nerves, lights, cameras, professional models and a judging panel were all part of the experience.
The students will all show their designs at the Whitecliffe Graduate Showcase in Auckland and Wellington in November and will feature in a Resene online gallery.
The winner of this year’s Resene Colour of Fashion project will receive a cash prize of $1000 gifted by Resene.
Karen Warman of Resene says: “We’re thrilled to have shared this project with our valued partner Whitecliffe for more than a decade.
“Together we’re bringing visibility to a generation of creative young talent.
“We love seeing the students immerse themselves in the story of their Resene fashion colour, reminding us all of the energy and meaning colour brings.
“We are proud to support this new group of fashion grads as they embark on their careers.”
Whitecliffe’s Doula Matheos says for the fashion pre-degree programmes at Whitecliffe, the project gives a taste of the experience students can expect in their fashion careers.
“Graduates of these programmes go on to excel in many roles, as diverse as merchandisers, buyers, costume designers, garment technicians, workroom assistants, patternmakers, machinists and fashion designers.
“Whitecliffe alumni are contributing to brands like Weta Workshop, Entire Studios and Stolen Girlfriends Club among others.
“Our curriculum, supported by Resene Colour of Fashion, prepares students for success in the contemporary fashion industry, in New Zealand and overseas.”
