By ALANAH MAY ERIKSEN
Two weeks ago Mijo Katavic was ready to pull out of the Rotorua Wearable Creations'n Colour Awards.
Just as well he didn't because Mr Katavic and a team of six from Castlecorp, a division of the Rotorua District Council, won the Qantas Supreme Award
for their creation, Tiger Lily, last night.
Plastic bags, tin cans, chicken wire, polystyrene balls, hula hoops, tyres, helmets, real estate signs, shower caps and shampoo bottles - garments were only limited to the designer's imagination.
The event, held at the Convention Centre, is in its fourth year.
"When you get a whole lot of creative people in one room together, man, it's really a tricky job. A couple of weeks ago I thought 'nah let's just pull out'," said Mr Katavic.
But two months of meeting every Wednesday and a lot of tears and tantrums later, the garment was finished.
The Castlecorp team won flights and accommodation for two to Sydney and a double pass to the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
"We got the prize and are getting recognition for all those hours we put in."
The lily part of the garment was made from rubber covered in faux fur. The "stem" was a leotard, velvet and dimantes and the head piece was twisted willow.
"All the tourists that come here say how beautiful our parks and reserves are. We wanted to represent that beauty. The tiger represents the endangered green spaces. The lily is beautiful, elegant and flowing, kind of like the female form."
The group have already started planning next year's creation but won't give any hints.
"People need to realise that Castlecorp is not just about picking up rubbish. We can design a good outfit too."
Konica Minolta won the Most Creative Use of Colour award for their creation called The Graduate. The youngest member of the team, Simon Power, had to don the canary yellow leotard.
"I lost my masculinity. I was forced into but that turned into a bribe - KFC - what a motive."
Awards were given to the top entries in five categories - youth, tertiary, individual, cultural and corporate.
