Originality wanted from school sewing

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 6

Originality wanted from school sewing

New Zealand schoolgirls should be encouraged by their sewing teachers to produce original designs, in the opinion of Mrs Tam HilL promoter of this year’s “Tea Dress” competition. This year Miss Hill says that she is encouraged by the creativity shown by the 12 to 20-year-01d entrants in the contest. Eight Canterbury semi-finalists are modelling their entries at Haywrights this week. The winner will be announced on Friday and will compete in the national final, in Auckland on October 7. “I was so disappointed in the first two years of the contest that the majority of girls were geared to making the basic frock—sewn very well but so uninteresting from a fashion point of view,” said Mrs Hill yesterday. "I’m sure this emphasis came from the school teachers.” IDEAS REQUESTED “When we sent out the entry forms to schools this year, we stressed that we wanted original ideas, and we are getting quite a few.” However, although Mrs Hill has found several “outstanding entries in the Canterbury area, she would like the girls to be even more radical. Entrants must design. cut, and make their own interpretation of modem fashiofi. Mrs Hill says that the standard of workmanship produced in New Zealand sewing classes is extremely high. She concedes that teachers must produce the examination requirements, but would like to see them encourage individual expression in such contests as the "Tea Dress” competition. The competition was devised to encourage girls who wanted to make fashion design their careers. “In a

; few years time manufacr turers will need many, young, ; ; original designers,” said Mrs . f Hill. ! ; “POTENTIAL DESIGNERS” i ’ “A designer of 40 or 50 1 ’ finds it difficult to communicate young ideas. If a manu- 1 facturer is looking for de- 1 ■ signing talent he wants more ’ 5 than just a girl who can sew ■ ! well.” i "I can’t see why we cannot export garments with a ! s young, essentially New Zea- ' ■ land design.” ’ Mrs Hill believes New Zea- ! land women are among the ! most creative in the world. • “Among our do-it-yourself i women are hundreds of exi perts,” she said. “We just don’t give ours Selves enough credit. I’m > sure if there wqre a world--1 wide contest in handicrafts j we would be amazed at the - number of prizes New Zea- i - landers would win. , t Schoolteachers were gener- 1 ’ ally enthusiastic about the : ■ contest. The prizes include a ' s motor scooter, cosmetics, a sewing machine, and clothes. i - Many schools had made the i s contest a project, and the i i winning school would be I i awarded a sewing machine, j

Today Mrs Hill will be examining the garments individually for fit. On Friday she will study each garment for workmanship and finish. USE OF FABRIC When judging she pays particular attention of originality in design, and use of fabric. “A girl who can make an inexpensive fabric look like a million dollars is my idea of a creative designer. ’ The New Zealand winner of the competition will receive a silver trophy. It was formerly a trophy awarded to the “Gown of the Year” winner. When Mrs Hill decided to stop this contest, ■ after 10 years, she wanted to give the trophy to youth, and so donated it for this competition. Mrs Hill is not a dressmaker herself. She classifies herself as an “ideas person.” But she grew up in the fashion world—her mother was overseas buyer for a large chain of Australian stores —eventually graduating into her own promotions company. Now she promotes anything from tea, to wool, to machinery, and is delighted with the creativity shown by young people. “In past years there probably was the talent, but not the opportunity to show it. Now there is, and youngsters are responding.”