Apec Schools: Design a T-shirt

By Victoria Roberts and Nicky Gosney

Fred Dagg would probably dress 21 of the world's most powerful people in black singlets and gumboots when they attend the Apec leaders' summit next month.

Traditionally, the host nation presents a surprise garment for the leaders to wear in the official photo, taken at the meeting.

The garment, designed to reflect the culture of the country, will be kept under wraps until the leaders' summit takes place at the Auckland Museum on September 13.

Leading fashion designer Karen Walker said a black singlet or a similar Kiwi classic would be the way to go.

"It would have to be something like a swandri or a rugby shirt...New Zealand's national identity is not one of chicness, it's more casual and the garment should reflect that," she said.

"It should be comfortable and durable - something they can take home and wear in their own backyards."

The deadline for the garment's design proposal was mid-February and designers were asked to consider style, comfort and appropriateness. The successful designer's name or label will be released nearer to the summit date.

Chris Dobbs from Working Style said a tailor-made cotton business shirt with a styled collar would be ideal for leading politicians. Double-cuffs could be complemented by cuff links carrying a Kiwi design, like a rugby ball.

Most fashion gurus agreed that rugby gear, like the All Black jersey, was an obvious choice.

Adidas, the company that dresses rugby's elite, backed this suggestion. Rugby operations manager Simon Johnston said Adidas would definitely put the leaders in a black jersey but it would be the traditional supporters' type, with white three stripes down the arms.

"The new Chinese collar is only for players who have earned the right to wear it," he said.

Elizabeth Neville of Zambesi also said the item should reflect the Kiwi attitude and could even have a Pacific flavour to it.

Last year's Apec conference was held in Kuala Lumpur and leaders were presented with a batik shirt. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley was the only female head of state, so she was presented with a skirt and top in matching fabric.

Previous gifts have included a black leather jacket from Vancouver (1997) and a long-sleeved traditional white shirt from Manila (1996).

World's Denise L'Estrange-Corbet would prefer to dress Government heads in something more glittering. She suggested fully sequinned suits that would create a dazzling effect in the camera's flash.

"It would be much more interesting to see the cameras flashing and the press suffering from celebrity-itis," she said.

Whatever the final product is, Mrs Shipley has been kept informed of the garment's progress. She is confident that it will be unique to New Zealand and Kiwis will be proud of it.

* Victoria Roberts and Nicky Gosney are journalism students at the Auckland Institute of Technology