Maori designer takes Cult Couture Supreme Award (+photos)

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Indigenous designer, Adrienne Whitewood who affliates to Rongowhakaata took out the Cult Couture Supreme Award at the Southside Arts Festival held at the Manukau Telstra Events Centre over the weekend. The event hosted by Jackie Clarke and featuring top entertainers and dance choreographed by Aotearoa’s very own Parris Goebel.

The Cult Couture combines theatre, music, dance and fashion and celebrates the cultural flavours, innovation and originality emanating from Aotearoa’s fashion industry. The Cult Couture Awards encourage designers to push boundaries and create truly unique one off garments.

Whitewood’s piece “Taniko”, which finds a nexus between Lady Gaga and more traditional Maori costume is a garment constructed from thousands of tiny woollen stitches woven on board.

Whitewood says she is inspired by Maori art and culture, and likes to take traditional concepts and with them invents unique silhouettes exploring fabric manipulation and technology, her ethos is all about creating wearable clothing for women who want an emotional connection to clothing.

The win has seen her take home $6,000 in prize money which is going towards her fabric buying trip in Melbourne.

Her joint collection with local designer Amiria Skipwith, which will be debuted at the upcoming 2013 Te Matatini Kapahaka Festival held in Rotorua.

Bio | Adrienne Whitewood

Currently based in Rotorua with her work/showroom at RAVE (Rotorua Arts Village) She graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Design in 2009, established her label Adrienne Whitewood in 2010. She has shown at NZ Fashion week for the last two years and is currently studying towards a Diploma in Maori at Te Wananga O Aotearoa.

Inspired by Maori art and culture, Adrienne Whitewood takes traditional concepts and with them invents unique silhouettes exploring fabric manipulation and technology, her ethos is all about creating wearable clothing for women who want an emotional connection to clothing.

In 2010 She debuted her first collection titled; “Kimihia He Ngaro (Search for the unseen unobtainable)”at NZFW and Most recently early in 2011 Adrienne Won the Supreme title at the Miromoda Fashion awards with her Collection “Te Aho Tapu (the sacred thread)” which will be shown at this year’s NZFW, part of her prize package will see her head to Melbourne fashion week, and be mentored by Jack Yan (Lucire Magazine) who has stated that “She has one of the strongest futures out of any of the contestants that have ever entered Miromoda’.

• Visit her website at www.AdrienneWhitewood.com
• Visit her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AdrienneWhitewood

Stevie Bartle (photographer) and Andrew Strickland & Ike Proctor (creative directors)

4 Comments

1. 

   Michelle

   October 26, 2012 at 7:37 am

   Congratulations Age, you have been blessed with an amazing gift to create something as beautiful as this garment, we are so proud of you, you have been blessed from the great creator and designer Himself, God. Praise the Lord.

   Reply
2. 

   Kathy Jones

   October 25, 2012 at 9:53 am

   You go girl! You are most deserved of this award Adrienne – beautiful creations from a beautiful young lady (inside and out)!!! Blessings in abundance and success to you for your future!

   Reply
3. 

   Matt Herewini

   October 25, 2012 at 8:52 am

   Nga mihi Adrienne Ka mau te wehi te ataahua o to mahi kakahu so like the colour arrangements & matching

   Reply
4. 

   Emily

   October 23, 2012 at 10:35 pm

   Huge Congrats Adrienne, Just another to add to the line up for your future. Stunning

   Reply