Wild yearning inspires fashion recruit

Student Zoe Amos puts the finishing touches to her mini-collection of garments, Be Wild. Photo/Bevan Conley

You could say fashion student Zoe Amos' garments are wild.

That's because her faux fur and sprayed lace clothing was inspired by the popular children's book, Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

Ms Amos is one of 10 third-year Bachelor of Fashion students at Whanganui UCOL taking part in an exhibition at the Edith Gallery this week.

Senior lecturer in fashion Cassandra Knight said each student had produced a three-piece "mini collection" for the exhibition.

"For this collection, they have to take their inspiration from a literary or art work."

Ms Amos' mini collection is called Be Wild.

"I looked to the scenery and the monsters [from Where The Wild Things Are] for inspiration. It was a book I loved as a kid, but I was scared of it too."

Ms Knight said by the time the students got to their third year they were confident in their design process and style.

Work produced for the exhibition will be included in the students' third-year assessments.

Ms Knight said once the exhibition was finished, all the garments will be entered in the Westpac Young Designer Awards, and the students would spend four weeks on work placement in the fashion industry.

Ms Amos is spending two weeks of her placement at the Whanganui Regional Museum, and two weeks at Sabatini in Auckland. "I'm really excited about it," she said.

She wants to gain as much experience in the industry as possible before opening her own fashion business.

"I just love to sew. "It's my passion," she said.

"The exhibition will run until 1pm Friday, at the Edith Gallery, Whanganui UCOL, Taupo Quay.