N.Z. Wool Board’s Supreme Award Won By City Firm

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30678, 18 February 1965, Page 2

N.Z. Wool Board’s Supreme Award Won By City Firm

“The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, February 17. A Christchurch manufacturer, Mr F. D. Cantwell, of Cantwell Creations, Ltd., won the New Zealand Wool Board’s supreme award for fashion garments at a ceremony held in Wellington last evening. Mr W. L. Gerrard, manager of Alliance Textiles, Ltd., Milton, received the supreme award for wool fabrics. The Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) presented the two kauri “oscars,” the highest honours in the contest.

Three gold medal awards were made to Christchurch manufacturers by Mrs J. Acland, wife of the chairman of the New Zealand Wool Board. They went to Cantwell Creations, Ltd., W. Selby and Company (Wholesale), Ltd., and Lane, Walker, Rudkin, Ltd., for the best entries in the topcoats, suits and women’s formal knitwear sections respectively.

The supreme award garment was a slim-line double breasted coat in a desert beige wool fabric with a homespun effect in the weave. It had slightly flaring lines to the skirt, a long lapelled collar in brown beaver lamb and a self-fabric flll-in dicky. This coat, which also won a gold medal, has a youthful appearance but is definitely sophisticated. It was designed for elegant women of most age groups. BEST SUIT The Christchurch firm’s gold medal suit was in a heathery lilac wool tweed. The long jacket had a distinctive cravat collar and offcentre fastening on the jacket The skirt was straight. The twin-set which won the women’s formal knitwear section was in a cream-beige fine wool, treated to resist shrinkage. The raglan sleeves were fully fashioned and the neckline of the pullover was finished with a small bow. Milton’s supreme awardwinning textile was a Done-gal-type tweed in mineral blue, bittersweet and black, suitable for women’s suits and coats. FASHION PARADE During the evening a parade of top New Zealand wool fashions was shown, including award-winning garments. Max Cryer compered

the parade, which was coordinated by Bobbie Jarvis. The judge for this year’s contest was Mrs Joy McGillawee, director of the Wool Bureau of Canada. In the 1965 national wool awards, 11 gold medals were distributed, all for women’s fashion except the one given for men’s knitwear. This is the fifth year the board has made these awards. OTHER WINNERS

Gold medal winners in districts other than Christchurch were as fallows: The House of Raymonde, Wellington, for an ensemble; Elite Styles, Ltd., Wellington, for a daydress; C. E. Tarrant, Ltd., Auckland, for a formal evening gown in the haute couture (wholesale) section;

Rene, Palmerston North, for a full-length formal evening gown in the haute couture (open) section; the House of Sportscraft, Ltd., Auckland, for both slacks and skirts; Wakefield Brothers (N.Z.), Ltd., Auckland, for women's informal knitwear; and Sargood, Son and Ewen, Ltd., Auckland, men’s knitwear.