Missing lunchtimes, staying at school late and heading into school during holidays is what a group of Whangarei students have been enduring as they prepare for the Northland Bernina Fashion Awards.
A group of Whangarei Girls' High School students are among 60 designers who have spent months preparing for tomorrow's awards.
Megan King, a Year 12 student at the school, has been entering the awards since she was in Year 7 and has placed in several categories over the years. She said the awards provided a good platform for young designers.
"For us, it's also good for our end of year portfolio [at school] and it's good experience so that you can move to national competitions," she said.
When asked how much time was spent preparing for the awards the girls looked at each other, laughed and said "lots".