Seven fashion students from Whanganui UCOL are gearing up for an exhibition of their work at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre.
Initiation, featuring a mini collection of three outfits from each of the students, opens on Monday and runs until June 22.
Lecturer Steph West said the collection represents half a year's work for each of the students, and was a substantial part of their assessment for their third year of a bachelor of fashion degree.
Each student chose a concept to base their collection on, which could be an artwork, a book or a song. "It gives them a focus at the beginning of the year," Ms West said. "We have a diverse range of concepts."
Once the students have finished this section of work they spend four weeks interning with fashion companies.
Hannah Winter's seven-piece collection, Lucid Haze, was inspired by a photo of Mt Everest. "I made my own print, following the structure of the mountain and all its dips and falls, and got that printed on to fabric," the 20-year-old from New Plymouth said.
Garments made with this printed fabric form the basis of her collection.
Ms Winter's internship will be at fashion label Kate Sylvester in Auckland, and she hopes to one day start her own fashion label.
"I've always been a fan of Kate Sylvester, and I also admire Juliette Hogan. They're both New Zealand designers and they both have a relaxed feel to their designs, which I like."
Twenty-three-year-old AJ Bradley from Gisborne was inspired by a book by singer Patti Smith, called Just Kids, for her collection, The Hungry Years. "[The book] is set in the 1970s in New York, which was a really colourful time. I'm really inspired by artists and musicians from that time."
Ms Bradley is exhibiting under her own label, Motel Bible.
Her internship will be with Penny Sage - but she also may be taking part in New Zealand Fashion Week in August.
Ms Bradley's collection has been accepted for the Miromoda Competition in Hamilton at the end of the month. If she finishes in the top two in her category in the competition she will be able to show at Fashion Week.
She has also been chosen by Zambesi as an intern during Fashion Week. "I'm going to be very busy for the rest of the year," Ms Bradley said.
-Initiation will open at the Wanganui Community Arts Centre on June 15.