Festival director Dorothy-Anne Wilson is impressed with the standard at this year's event in Opotiki. Picture / Alan Gibson.
Festival director Dorothy-Anne Wilson is impressed with the standard at this year's event in Opotiki. Picture / Alan Gibson.
Dorothy-Anne Wilson loves anything to do with textiles, creativity and sustainability - and, as creator and director of Opotiki's annual Fibre and Fleece Festival, she is able to bring these passions to life.
"The quality of the festival this year is the highest it's ever been. All of the piecesuse only natural fibres and products - sustainability is at the core of what it's all about," she says.
More than 4000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival, starting today, including fashion shows at the De Luxe Theatre and a craft market and 105-piece exhibition at Opotiki College.
Creations are made from materials including wool, flax and leather.
"The level of innovation in this year's garments is outstanding," says Mrs Wilson.
She says the festival encourages people to use more natural fibres when creating textiles. "Wool is very much underrated. It's great to see a new trend coming through of people knitting and crocheting again."
Mrs Wilson said the event brought the small Bay of Plenty community together, with more than 60 volunteers involved in this year's festival.
