Designer to show on national stage (+ video)

Rotorua's Deborah de Loree is excited to be presenting a collection of garments she has designed at her first fashion show out of the Bay of Plenty.

The national Pacific Fusion Fashion Show, being held this Saturday, is where accepted designers will compete for the Supreme Award.

The Supreme winner of the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show will travel to Sydney in October to take the runway at Pacific Runway Fashion.

Mrs de Loree said her collection consisted of seven outfits, including evening gowns, skirts with tops and a long sleeved dress.

So far, she had made three and still had the other four to make for her 'Malkym' collection.

In reds, blues, blacks and whites, the garments will show off the body shape, along with having a touch of the koru/fern design.

Mrs de Loree said to be accepted into the fashion show you usually had to send your collections through and apply.

However, one of the show organisers had seen photos on Mrs de Loree's Facebook page and that was enough to get her entry, she said.

Mrs de Loree is a student at the Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and is in her first year of a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design, having also done a year in fashion there.

She is of Te Arawa iwi, from Ngati Whakaue and Ngati Ngararanui.

What she loved about fashion designing was making new styles and trying to create something people hadn't seen before.

"I want to try and be different."

She said two designers who inspired her were Donnatella Versace and Anne Sofie Madsen, because their dresses were fitting and had swirl designs which reminded her of koru.

"I've always loved fashion since I was really young."

The judging panel is made up of Anna Hood, co-owner of New Zealand Fashion Week, and Failepou Peni, an international guest judge.

Mrs de Loree said the show would hopefully present more opportunities for her, as advertising was provided for designers after the event.

"I'm really excited, and hoping that eventually I could have my own shop up and running in Rotorua."