Insect vibe inspires newspaper fashion

NorthTec was transformed into a fashion shoot location when four fashion students revealed the final pieces in the Read All About It wearable arts competition.

The Northern Advocate donated stacks of newspapers to the second-year diploma in fashion students, who crafted garments with a steampunk vibe.

The students, Emmaleigh Crompton-Powell, Pinia Lazarus-Spicer, Hannah Nelson and Kat Wellington, were given the brief in May and spent two months researching, designing and crafting.

Working under the guidance of tutor Edele MacDonald, they then spent three weeks working on their garments. They showcased their works at a catwalk event at NorthTec this week and fashion shoot with the Advocate's award-winning photographer Michael Cunningham.

Hair and beauty students got on board, preparing the models for a day in front of the camera.

Billowing skirts, gathered sleeves, and figure-hugging bodices, all made from newspapers, came down the catwalk and a panel of judges marked them on their overall appeal and technical craft.

Emmaleigh Crompton-Powell and her creation Little Miss Fearless was crowned winner. The judges thought the striking high-neck collar and wired cage-skirt had the most high-fashion impact. Miss Crompton-Powell, 19, said the garment was inspired by the steampunk genre's interest in insects.

Steampunk fans often sport mechanical insects as accessories, and the cage-like skirt on Miss Crompton-Powell's garment was inspired by bugs' legs and feelers.

Her garment will be featured on the front cover of SAVVY magazine.

Tutor Edele MacDonald was proud of her students' results.

The garments have also been entered in the Bernina Northland Fashion Awards.

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  You can see the Read All About It photo shoot and feature in SAVVY magazine next Saturday, August 3 in the Northern Advocate.