Baillie's bright spark at Evento

Whanganui City College head girl Baillie Edwards used the inspiration of self esteem for her entry in a wearable art award last month.

Baillie was the sole entry from Whanganui this year in Feilding High School's wearable art show Evento, which attracted a full-house audience of 2000 on July 30.

Her entry, Love The Shade You're In, was in the yellow category. She used a mix of recycled and found materials to create her look, which she said was all about self-esteem.

"Young people fail to accept themselves for who they are, inside and out," said Baillie.

"The brief was to create a garment with different shades, shapes and textures.

"The message is that you don't need to be any other shape, colour or culture to be happy."

From its humble beginnings as an in-school event in 1996, Evento has grown into a major annual event held at Manfeild Park Stadium in Feilding.

Baillie said she entered for the first time two years ago and although she knew what to expect, she was slightly anxious.

"I had a few nerves towards the beginning of the show but once I stood on the stage, I was in my element," she said.

Kaitlyn Johnston from Feilding High School was the Evento supreme winner and received the Westpac Design Scholarship worth $15,000.

The yellow category was won by another Feilding student, Rene Williamson for her When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade entry and Taihape Area School's Millie Law was a category winner with Blue Girl on a Wire.

Money raised from Evento each year are put back into the event to build the quality and create more spectacular shows each year.