Passion for fashion inspires Hokonui judges

Passion for fashion inspires Hokonui judges

Fashion experts from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington arrived in Gore last night to start the judging process for the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

The Hokonui Strictly Design Evening will be held tomorrow night, while the Hokonui Gala Awards Evening on Saturday is sold out.

Doris de Pont, James Dobson, Lela Jacobs and Barbara Lee will join Jim Geddes from Gore to start judging the designs this morning, which will continue right through tomorrow night's show.

Doris de Pont, who will lead the judging panel, said there was a huge job ahead for them.

A designer for more than 25 years, Ms de Pont retired her label in 2008 and now works as a freelance fashion curator.

It will be her second time judging at the awards.

The first thing judges look for in a garment was if the designer had responded to the design brief in its category, she said.

"Personally, I look for innovation and the ability of a designer to execute a good idea through the construction of a garment".

She hoped many of the designs would surprise and inspire her.

In her experience judges chose the winner after much discussion.

"The other judges are wonderful designers with their own perspective of design. Eventually, we choose a winner we can all agree on."

Lela Jacobs is making her first trip to Southland as a judge and intends to do some sightseeing in the region after the shows.

The ex-Wellingtonian now lives in Auckland and has opened "The Keep", her own store in K' Road.

She believed the awards were an integral part of the New Zealand fashion industry and an important source of inspiration for up and coming designers.

She hired last year's "Award of Excellence" winner Kerry Wong.

"During judging I will look at the fabric and the finish of a garment and if the style and cutting pattern complement the fabric."

Natural fibres and locally sourced materials would get bonus points, she said.

About 300 garments were submitted into the competition by 215 individual designers, but only 200 will make the catwalk shows.

Executive producer Heather Paterson said the judges' task of selecting the final garments would be difficult.

She believed original pieces with a "wow" factor would grab the attention of the judges, who would also look at colour and texture.

"It's always good to see the reaction of the judges and how highly impressed they are by the entries," she said.

She hoped the judges would go away feeling good about Southland.