WoolOn fashion of a world standard, judge says

(Left to right) Felted: Just Alice, by Heather Kerr, of Wanaka. Avant garde: Hanging Gardens, by Laurel Judd, of Napier. Handcrafted: Tyla Pearl, by Daphne Randle, of Alexandra. Photos: Janyne Fletcher

''It had such humble beginnings, but now it's an event that could be staged anywhere in the world,'' WoolOn judge Deirdre Hore-Mckenzie said of Saturday's fashion gala.

And she should know, having started the event, now in its 13th incarnation, along with local Alexandra woman Janice Mills.

The mostly-woollen garments being paraded past the 440 guests showed a standard that had risen greatly since the first event, she said.

''But there were a few stand-outs which made judging easier. I was very nervous when they asked me.''

From the bow-tied waiters, dessert mountains, hanging greenery and flooding stage-lights, it was difficult to tell the venue was a fruit-packing building in industrial Alexandra.

Former Shortland Street star Te Kohe Tuhaka hosted the night as models strutted down the catwalk to booming electronic music.

Gore designer Viv Tamblyn welled up during her brief speech when her garment A Touch of Copper was named the supreme winner.

After the ceremony she said she was ''overwhelmed''.

''I've entered a few times, and won category prizes before, but I never thought I would win overall.''

It took her three or four months to create the 100% wool five-piece garment, which consisted of an oversized vest, a bralette, high-waisted pants, an off-the-shoulder-jersey and a beanie. The outfit was inspired by copper, which was hand-painted throughout the items.

WoolOn chairwoman Clair Higginson said it was the best fashion show she had been to.

''When I first came in here I thought, oh all that silver paper on the walls, that's going to be awful. But one of the girls said, 'no Clair, it's going to make it really work', and actually it has. The environment of the building being so stark has made that happen.''

The weekend's main sponsor was Rural Women New Zealand. The event also featured a first-look night on Friday, which attracted about 200 people, and an ''up close and personal'' event at Central Stories museum and gallery yesterday.