Top weaver takes Te Kopu fashion award

Tu Tangata, Issue 17, 1 April 1984, Page 8

Top weaver takes Te Kopu fashion award

Te Kuiti’s celebrated weaver Rangituatahi “Digger” Te Kanawa felt obliged to contribute something to this year’s Te Kopu fashion awards, since the show was being held in the Waikato.

She never dreamed she would walk away at the end of the day with the supreme trophy in her hands.

Mrs Te Kanawa’s polyester-lined sheer evening gown “Aramoana” ran out hugely popular winner of the supreme award at a function held at Te Awamutu’s racecourse in February.

Asked if she made a habit of designing contemporary clothing when she is not painstakingly weaving korowai cloaks and the like with feathers and flax, Mrs Te Kanawa said: “No, not really. I have always sewn, but I just felt that we in this area should make an effort seeing this had come to our area.

“I didn’t think for a minute that I would win. I thought I would be in the also-rans,” she said.

Mrs Te Kanawa’s grand-daughter Mata Turner modelled the dress, the name of which means pathway of the sea. Its design combined different shades of blue with a stylised representation of waves, while a three-tone plait on the neckline represented rimurimu, or seaweed.

The outdoor function in Te Awamutu was the first time the awards ceremony had been held there. The purpose of holding it in Te Awamutu was to coincide with the town’s centennial year arts festival.

Former Wellington Mayor and Mayoress Sir Michael and Lady Barbara Fowler presented the awards, and the 1986 ceremony is to be held in the new Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, it was announced.

Section award winners were: • Evening wear Shona Goodwin took this keenly contested section with a white satin doeskin dress featuring bodice and skirt edged with a motiff worked in green sequins. The waist was nipped in with a sequin-sequined rose, and accompanying the dress was a small green-sequined headband. The model was Marama Theodore of Northland. • High fashion day wear Rangitinia Wilson of Ngapuhi and Tuhoe tribes won this with a dress named “Paetutu”. It was a medium-length creation of Thai silk featuring batwing sleeves and a double kick pleat at the back. The inset and belt were woven in the style of Maori woven kits. The model was Lyn Wilson, of the same tribes.

• Youth casual high fashion day wear Mr B Nin of Hamilton and Mrs A Taimana of Pakuranga won this section with a man’s jacket and trousers outfit featuring a dramatic, quilted, triangular overlay on the jacket. The aa n j green and grey outfit was modelled by Hoani Heremaia. • Ethnic costume - Mihi Johnson's . j... i j • r . . f ~ traditional design featuring a feather ~ujuu ju j j • • clock, body sash, headband and piupiu took this award. Designed as a past pupils' costume for Hato Petera (St Peter’s) College, it was modelled by William Daniels.

• Children’s wear two blue, heavily motified light-weight short-sleeved shirts by Thea Green of Te Arawa tribe won this section. The models were Hoani Heremaia and James Forshaw. _„ .. A u . .. t • Knitwear A combination of a , , r „ , , ... , , dark green full length knitted dress tea urm 8 a , large ' bald ko ™ hal , flo ™ e i pattern on the front, a white knitted .r.. , , . , . .. coat featuring a kowhaiwhai pattern , „ , ° , , , . K alo ? g ,he ,® d f s and \ match ‘ n 8 bonaet by Irene Wiki, of Paekakanki took this P rize - The judges also highly commended a

popular Grecian-styled cream evening outfit in three pieces by Mrs Green. It featured a see-through cap hemmed with feathers in korowai fashion, and the dress had a low swing over one hip outlined in braided Maori motif. Romoana Heremaia was the model. Another highly commended garment was also by Mrs Green, a man’s crossover shirt with no collar, and motifs decorating the borders, entered in youth casual wear section. Compere Phillip Munro said the 80 odd entries were a record for the awards. The judges were Southern Maori MP Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, fabrics expert Natallie Marshall, and graphic designer Sandy Adsett. Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan was applauded by the more than 500-strong audience when she said she would like to see a school of Maori fine arts established in New Zealand to develop such arts and help to develop a market and an image for the country’s indigenous art. The ceremony was followed by a concert in Te Awamutu last night featuring the Patea Maori Club, whose song Poi E has climbed high on the country’s hit parades.