New Generation group shows are a tough training ground, with young designers vying for attention one after another.
First up was Kathryn Leah Payne from Christchurch, whose preparations were interrupted by the earthquake. She showed a black, fitted collection with lots of leather and a propensity to lace it up the back.
Maaike, a design duo of South Islanders Abby van Schreven and Emilie Pullar, are now Auckland-based, but work mostly with woollies. Their knits were seen to best effect in a graduated speckled effect cream-to-black scarf and The Mummy Striped Sweater Dress, a black cocoon with ribbed hem which featured bold white stripe details they say were inspired by patterns on the outside of a mummy's coffin. The same criss-crossed stripe was used on a man's sweater.
Celine Rita cited 60s Warhol starlet Edie Sedgwick as inspiration, reimagining that the fashion muse survived her heroin addiction and turned into a carefree 70s girl. From mini to maxi then. Celine Rita shaped her a wardrobe with taupe lace blouses, midnight blue velvet pants with a little ruffle flaring out from the waistband, and a bright little floral print jacket.
The print looked a lot like one that figured on Kathryn Wilson's shoes earlier in the day and in the next segment a more muted floral used by Riddle Me This seemed strikingly similar to one chosen by Juliette Hogan and a woven earthy-toned knit twinned with Sera Lilly.
It's hard in a country the size of New Zealand to source unique fabrics, meaning Liz Turner, the 21-year-old designer of Riddle Me This will find it doubly hard to meet her aim of making clothes for "a woman who doesn't want to wear what everybody else wears".
The former Bay of Plenty Polytechnic student, who has bravely opened her own business in Mt Maunganui, cited Russia's pastoral past as an influence.
Texturally this took in wool boucle, velvet and a fur jerkin, with skirts cut full circle.
New Generation yes, but as to whether they're the next generation - we'll see.