CONTEST FOR N.Z. DRESS DESIGNERS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30811, 24 July 1965, Page 2

CONTEST FOR N.Z. DRESS DESIGNERS

Most of New Zealand’s top dress designers, including last year’s winners, Mr Bill McEvoy and Mrs Joan Todd, will compete in this year’s Benson and Hedges Award for design in Wellington next month.

The fashion parade and judging will be held in Wellington on August 24, 25 and 26. This was announced by Mrs Jeannie Gandar, president of the New Zealand Modelling Association. This year there will be two “gold rose” awards, one each for day wear and evening wear. All garments will be shown by leading Wellington models, she said.

The contest is being held to encourage New Zealand designers and manufacturers to take part in competitive work and to create public interest in fashion trends.

The financial support given to the project by the sponsors would enable the association to bring a judge from Australia, she said. Miss Anne Soutter, of Melbourne, who judged last year’s contest, had arranged for Miss Joanne Fuller, a well-known Sydney fashion personality, to judge the 1965 event. As there had not been any other plans announced for a major fashion promotion in New Zealand until well into 1966, this contest will be a valuable stimulus to public interest in fashion, Mrs Gandar said.

Mr Barry Cotton, a representative of the sponsoring firm, said yesterday that he hoped Canterbury designers would take advantage of this opportunity to show their talents. “There are some outsatnding designers in the province," he said.