Four Wellingtonians are off to New Zealand Fashion Week after making the top 10 of the Resene NZ Fashion Tech Colour of Fashion project.

Sophie Sargent, 26, Olli Paroli, 19, Clare Weterings, 19, and Latia O'Kane-Hughes, 18, will all have their designs showcased on the Resene Designer Runway at Fashion Week in August.

Models Elise Hislop, left, and Emily Triggs showcasing two of the winning outfits by 2016 NZ Fashion Tech Diploma students.
photos:marieprom.co.uk

It's the third consecutive year NZ Fashion Tech Diploma students have been tasked with creating an outfit made out of a silk sari for the project.

The saris were imported from Doddampalayam in southern India, where they are hand-woven on a loom.

Each designer's vision has transformed the raw materials into a stand-alone outfit.

Sargent, from Mt Cook, had to lop off 10cm from the length of the coat she created to make her pattern fit the sari.

"I think it's almost better, it plays more with the proportions."

She says the coat had to be "minimal and large-scale to be stylish" due to the bright buttercup yellow colour.

Olli Paroli, originally from Johnsonville, tells the story of a breakup with his creation.

"My Resene colour, Permanent Green, is almost a haunting shade. Inspired by the darkness, I created a story about a breakup," Paroli says.

"I have a fascination with gender neutrality and the blending of design elements that lend to typically masculine and feminine silhouettes."

Clare Weterings, from Wadestown, created a structured pantsuit using a sari inspired by the colour of the coast.

"I thought of large open spaces in front of the sea; a vast expanse of ocean, beaches, cliff and sky," she says.

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"I really like it. The end result couldn't have been any more me."

O'Kane-Hughes, of Wainuiomata, has been sewing since she was 7.

Although the opportunity to showcase her work at Fashion Week came as a surprise, O'Kane-Hughes is excited about the challenge.

"I didn't expect my design to be chosen."

Each sari is inspired by a Resene paint colour and this year is the first time black tones have been included in the range of available saris

These designs will feature at Fashion Week along with designs from six Auckland NZ Fashion Tech diploma students.

Read more:http://www.marieprom.co.uk