Age: 37 From: Auckland Aesthetic: Classic, modern and clean combined with South Pacific heritage. Fun fact: Ben once made a jumpsuit out of his mum's old bedsheets, decorated with blue glitter.
Age: 23 From: Auckland Aesthetic: Exaggerated minimalism – tailored clean lines and clean silhouettes. Fun fact: Benjamin usedto be a keen athlete and sportsman, playing competitive water polo and rugby. But he had to give it all up after he fell off a cliff and broke both the bones in his leg.
BETH HORNSBY-HUNT
Beth Hornsby-Hunt. Photo / Supplied
Age: 31 From: Auckland Aesthetic: Classic 50s silhouettes – think cinched waists and flared skirts. Fun fact: Beth once used taxidermied ducklings as part of a fashion creation, sending a model down the runway with three ducklings on her head and another two perched on her shoulder.
CAITLIN CRISP
Caitlin Crisp. Photo / Supplied
Age: 22 From: Christchurch Aesthetic: Girly. Think frills, billowing cotton and resort styles. Fun fact: My grandmother was a keen seamstress but I never got to know her as she passed away when I was two. My mum says I'm her reincarnated.
CAMILLE RICHARD
Camille Richard. Photo / Supplied
Age: 22 From: Auckland Aesthetic: Statement pieces that incorporate weird shapes, sculpture, structure and organic lines. Fun fact: Camille loves a bit of sparkle – so much so, she started her own handbag line to spread the sparkle far and wide.
JESS HUNTER
Jess Hunter. Photo / Supplied
Age: 23 From: Auckland Aesthetic: Playful: Jess likes to mix extremes, whether that be colour vs print or feminine vs masculine. Fun fact: Jess works in a bridal dressmaking story and is used to dealing with tricky customers, including a bride who once decided she hated her dress – just three days before her wedding. In true Tim Gunn fashion, Jess and the team found a way to make it work.
JUDY GAO
Judy Gao. Photo / Supplied
Age: 24 From: Auckland Aesthetic: Sophisticated, elegant, sexy and edgy. Fun fact: Judy is self-taught and made her own dress for her high school ball. She is also a master chess champion.
KERRI RANGIHUI
Kerry Ranginui. Photo / Supplied
Age: 33 From: Whanganui Aesthetic: Clean, quirky and experimental with silhouettes and never afraid of a print Fun fact: Most recently, Kerry has worked with Karen Walker as a pattern maker but before that he spent six years living on a dairy farm.
Age: 27 From: Invercargill Aesthetic: Lenon's creations borrow feminine characteristics and are inspired by both the Victorian Era and his African heritage. Fun fact: Lenon's design career was born out of frustration – after he couldn't find clothes that catered for gender fluid customers. As Lenon explains: "Nothing quite fit, it was either his or hers, but there was no middle ground."
MASSEY WILLIAMS
Massey Williams. Photo / Supplied
Age: 38 From: Christchurch Aesthetic: Sporty and utilitarian. Fun fact: Not such a fun fact but Massey's friends and family were less than supportive when he signed up to Project Runway, telling him to quit. Instead, it only galvanised his resolve to keep going.
MATT COSTELLO
Matt Costello. Photo / Supplied
Age: 26 From: Nelson Aesthetic: Unisex underground streetwear, with lots of draping, layers and earthy colours. Fun Fact: Matt claimed third place in the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards just six months after he began his design career.
MISTY RATIMA
Misty Ratima. Photo / Supplied
Age: 40 From: Napier Aesthetic: Unisex streetwear that mixes print, patterns and textures. Fun Fact: Misty already has her own design label Te Kohu, which is the Māori translation of her name, Misty.
NICOLE SCHMIDT
Nicole Schmidt. Photo / Supplied
Age: 28 From: Hawke's Bay Aesthetic: Dark and whimsical with a punk rock twist Fun Fact: When she's not busy being a full-time mum or designing clothes, Nicole likes to tell people's fortunes using tarot cards.
PENI MOALA
Peni Moala. Photo / Supplied
Age: 29 From: Arrowtown Aesthetic: Inspired by Pacific culture, I like to take the traditional and fuse it with a modern twist. Fun Fact: The first garment Peni ever made was a red mesh mini dress, hand-sewn onto a male mannequin.
