The Miromoda 2010 Judges Presentation and Awards took place at Massey University in Wellington on Saturday 26th June.

Miromoda’s panel of judges were Nikki Harmsen (Brand Manager for NZ Fashion Week,) Mapihi Opai (CEO Fashion Industry NZ,) Jack Yan (Publisher of Lucire) and Janet Carson (Indigenous Expert.)

This year’s competition saw 20 designers from all over New Zealand invited to take part in the judges presentations and attend the awards ceremony. Thank you to all of this year’s entrants.

Overall Winner: Blaire Archibald

28 June 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

Fashion commentators applaud Miromoda

Prior to announcing the winners at Saturday’s Miromoda Fashion Design Awards competition at Massey University’s Tea Gardens, NZ Fashion Week Brand co-ordinator and Miromoda head judge, Nikki Harmsen summarised the defining reasons for selecting seven Maori Fashion Designers to show at the 2010 NZ Fashion Week in September.

Miromoda Overall Winner 2010

“We were blown away at the calibre of the winning entries and excited at the potential Miromoda has in the future, especially what Miromoda will be showing at NZ Fashion Week to national and international media.

Equally supportive was Fashion Industry NZ (FINZ) Executive Officer and fellow judge Mapihi Opai. She said the winning designers in the emerging section in particular demonstrated a cultural subtlety in their very commercial designs that from an industry perspective is the critical factor. “We were so excited by one collection, we jumped up from our judging seats, grabbed a belt then twisted and shaped some of the pieces to form even more versions of a very clever and beautiful collection.”

Publisher of Lucire fashion magazine, Jack Yan and Wellington Mayoral candidate was also part of the judging panel and critiqued the entries from a magazine photo shoot perspective.

Miromoda’s Emerging Designer winner, Blair Archibald (Ngati Ruanui) also earned the status of Overall Winner for his nostalgic Menswear Collection. On top of showing at NZ Fashion Week, Archibald will receive return travel to Sydney and a VIP Front Row package to Sydney’s Rosemount Fashion Festival in August. The AUT graduate student who served his internship with Kate Sylvester last year said he didn’t expect to win, as he was aware a classmate whom he has huge respect for had also entered.

As it turns out, his classmate and close friend Adrienne Whitewood (Rongowhakata) was runner up in the same section and will also show at NZ Fashion Week.

“I didn’t expect to win because I thought Adrienne would with her amazing collection,” said Archibald then added, “I do feel blessed to have been recognized for my work and for incorporating my Grandfather’s wairua in my clothing. Being able to show at NZ Fashion Week is like being told you’ve reached the promised-land,” said Archibald.

For Whitewood, she is thrilled to be going to NZ Fashion week but also grateful for the networking at the Miromoda event and the constructive feedback she received from the judging panel.

“The judges gave me constructive critique about things I had never thought of before in terms of styling my collection. Next year I’m hoping to do my masters and really want to question and explore how I can push my collection into international markets.”

Miromoda Co Founder Rex Turnbull said the organisation was much easier than the debut competition last year, “the standard of entries was higher, and made more competitive by being presented on outstanding Maori models whose hair and makeup styling was simply stunning.”

A team from Wellington’s hair salon chain, getfunkd and headed by national judge, Warren Dion Smith, provided the hair and make up styling and will follow Miromoda to NZ Fashion Week. Likewise, national fashion shoe brand, Wild Pair.

ENDS

Official Results: Miromoda Maori Fashion Design Awards Competition – 26 June, 2010

Overall Winner: Blaire Archibald (Ngati Ruanui)

Established Winner: Aroha Wikotu (Whakatohea – Tuhoe)

Emerging Designer Winner: Blaire Archibald

Emerging Designer Runner-Up: Adrienne Whitewood (Rongowhakaata)

Haute Couture Winner: Ana Hau (Ngapuhi - Te Rarawa)

Haute Couture Runner-Up: Shona Tawhiao (Ngai Te Rangi)

Tee Shirt Placement Winner: Amber Bridgman (Kai Tahu, Ngati Mamoe and Waitaha)

Tee Shirt Placement Runner-Up: Kereama Taepa (Te Arawa – Te Ati Awa)

For more information please contact:

Ata Te Kanawa Miromoda Project Manager 04 473 0557

Katrina Matete Miromoda Project Coordinator 04 473 0557

IMAGES:

High res images are available of Blair Archibald and Adrienne Whitewood with one of their models. Please credit photographer Karla Steedman.

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Official Miromoda Launch

By his own admission, Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga pre warned his audience he was about to perform a “fairly bad version of a Superman stint.” But slinking out of his suit jacket, asking the music be turned up while he slung off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt was in good taste, for a good cause and amusing entertainment.

Officially launching Miromoda - the Indigenous Maori Fashion Apparel Board at Parliament last night, the new MP delighted a surprised, but appreciative, crowd of Miromoda supporters, when he revealed a Miromoda tee shirt under his shirt.

However, his popularity was matched when wife Natalie Bridges, Editor for Simply You and Simply Living magazines, won both the men and women over as the guest speaker. Miromoda co-founder Ata Te Kanawa said while it may have been the new Member of Parliament’s domain, his wife Natalie was very much in her own realm and well received by the 60 invited guests for her speech on ‘Fashion in the Recession.’

“Natalie won both the men and women over with her passionate delivery, sense of presence and style, genuine information on sustainable fashion and the importance of quality”. Adding, “Her political spin on the Government’s proposed 9-day fortnight, by suggesting people purchase only nine garments instead of 10 this winter was cute.”

Guests were privy to the launch of Miromoda’s new website, its impending Fashion Awards Event in June at Massey University for established and emerging Maori fashion designers, and its showcase of winners event at the Air New Zealand Fashion Week (ANZFW).

Founded in 2008, Miromoda is a non-profit organisation instituted to advance the quality status of Maori fashion design and to raise its artistic and professional standards; to define a code of ethical practices of mutual benefit in public and trade relations; and, to promote appreciation of the fashion arts through leadership in high quality and aesthetic discernment.

Miromoda received robust support at its initial meeting from Creative NZ, tertiary institutions and industry representatives including Founding Director of ANZFW, Pieter Stewart.

Although unable to attend last night’s launch, Stewart sent a letter of apology acknowledging she looks forward to ‘working closely with everyone involved with Miromoda in the future, and to help bring this exciting vision to reality. It will be a very proud moment when we see the first Miromoda show on the catwalk at Air New Zealand Fashion Week.’

In 2007, an estimated $23million contributed to the NZ economy via ANZFW, it is envisaged that Maori designers and key stake holders will play a role in the future of fashion in New Zealand.

Italian fashion House - Mittlemoda representative, Stefano Sopelza has already offered an internship to the winner of the Emerging section of the Miromoda Fashion Awards Competition.

KEY POINTS

• Miromoda is committed to nurturing the development of the Maori fashion industry’s future designers.
• Miromoda’s educational initiatives will provide support and strengthen resources for students at high school, tertiary and post-graduate levels.
• Miromoda will support working designers in the early stages of their careers, and should they require it, mentoring throughout their future including international profile and participation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Ata Te Kanawa

Office: (04) 473 05570, Mobile: 027 554 3382

Email: ata@miromoda.com

www.miromoda.com

We have received all entries for this year Miromoda Fashion Design Awards and I can tell you that all of them were of very high standards. The competition has now closed and we have notified contestants of their result. We will be holding our judges presentation and Miromoda Fashion Design Awards on June 26th 2010 in Wellington. We look forward to seeing all the garments up close and personal as well as finding out who will be showing in the Miromoda Showcase at New Zealand Fashion Week this year.

Miromoda is on twitter so come join the craze and follow us to find out what’s happening on a daily basis!! We will definately be posting everyday to let you all know what we are up to here in the office. Look forward to receiving your tweets so follow the link to find us. https://twitter.com/Miromoda

The awards competition was hold at the Tea Garden in Massey University, Wellington on 27th June ‘09

http://acolourfulguydrowning.blogspot.com/2009/09/miromoda-awards-showcase-anzfw-09.html

http://horiwood.com/2009/09/29/miramoda-fashion-awards-introduces-maori-fashion-designers/

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/fashionbeauty/news/article.cfm?c_id=42&objectid=10599342

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/fashion%20beauty/news/article.cfm?c_id=42&objectid=10599342>

http://www.slide.com/r/iPLDhHIQ7D-SP4flbO_fDO98iBRLDtrk?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

http://tvnz.co.nz/fashion-week/s2009-e240909-miromoda-video-3019584

http://www.thread.co.nz/news/4647/15/Miromoda-showcases-Maori-fashion

http://www.3news.co.nz/Maori-designers-make-an-impact-in-Miromoda-showcase/tabid/209/articleID/122711/Default.aspx?ArticleID=122711

http://www.3news.co.nz/Maori-designers-make-an-impact-in-Miromoda-showcase/tabid/372/articleID/122711/Default.aspx

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/oyF6AvUPFE8/ANZFW+2009+MiroModa+Awards+Showcase+Catwalk/4A8ziDu6UZr

I had some mad feedback and reveiws could hardly fit my head anywhere hahaha BUT I had one bad reveiw, so I contacted the reporter and questioned her on her comments, I learnt alot from it and I thanked her for her feedback it was all relevant to a stronger collection and body of work. Rex, Ata and David thank you so much for the opportunity!! Like I said before this is the most significant movement for Maori fashion designers to date. I am so grateful you had the vision to put this competition in place and I thank you for all your hard work. I really only have a basic idea of what it took from your end to produce a show of that magnitude and I take my hat off to you for having the balls to do it!! - abridged - Kiri Nathan Designer

I went into complete shut down to spend time with my kids and moko. Thank You Rex, It was so awesome spending that time with you and to get to know you more, you are so lovely, and you were truly there to help us. Thank you Ata for your vision, hard stressful frustrating work from yourself and Rex to making this opportunity happen for us all, I now know you were learning along with us experiencing the same stresses as ourselves, this has certainly been a huge learning experience. I am grateful tho that we had a briefing and were able to let out some of our concerns during this Miromoda process, as I said before it was a very stressful, frustrating, and ,vague experience, but it was also exciting and humbling to be accepted as good enough to showcase at such an event, so thank you that. -(abridged)
Tutina Pasene Designer

I just wanted to thank you for the fantastic opportunity, and also take this time to mention what an absolutely fantastic job you did of picking the models!!! The girls were absolutely stunning and they really made the garments work on the catwalk beautifully. Most of all, they were catwalk size but still had gorgeous figures (hips and bust) which worked especially well for my garments. ALL of the girls I had were wonderful and I strongly recommend using them next year if you get the chance
I am so stoked at all the wonderful media response I got - all positive and glowing reviews yay!! One lady even called me her favourite, so I got a really big head over that one lol. Samara Vercoe Designer