Resene Colour of Fashion expands, giving more students a chance in the eleventh year of a project launching fashion careers

The first selection round involved 54 Whitecliffe College fashion technology students from two year groups and three campuses, with the debut of Whitecliffe’s Manukau campus.

A shortlist of 24 will present their designs to the judges in the second and final selection round on Friday 2 August, each garment meticulously-crafted from silk twill dyed in Resene fashion colours.

Judges will select the 2024 Resene Colour of Fashion collection – they include Debra Denny Whitecliffe College Quality Assurance Manager, Milan Jeon designer and Master of Design graduate and Karen Warman of Resene.

Since its inception in 2014, Resene Colour of Fashion with Whitecliffe has seen hundreds of fashion students who are working towards a Diploma of Fashion Technology experience the world of fashion with this project before they step into careers.

Undeterred by the lockdown years with students learning remotely, or the postponement of aligned fashion events, Whitecliffe and Resene have ensured this project has never missed a year.

The theme for Resene Colour of Fashion in 2024 is: ‘Imagine the possibilities.’

The 2024 project started in April when students were briefed. The brief asked them to bring design ideas ‘unrestricted by convention or expectation or even the boundaries we give ourselves. Imagine a limitless style with a sense of freedom.’

Students have found inspiration from their Resene colour, with names like: Resene Freewheeling, Resene Adrenalin, Resene Good To Go, Resene Now Or Never and Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Some have imagined their colour in nature – ripples of water, sunrise, harakeke flowers, kea, clouds and aurora in the sky. Others have seen their colour in history or memories – a childhood ‘busy room’ that inspired their creative life journey, the apex of the roof of their marae, the ancient armour of a Cambodian warrior, and for one student: “the moonlight on the water for our Māori ancestors sailing across the ocean with nothing but stars and currents to guide them.”

On Judging Day the final 24 feeling the nerves, wear a carefully chosen outfit for the occasion and experience lights and cameras momentarily turned on them as they stand beside a professional model wearing their design in a studio. They then help direct their own portfolio images from behind the camera.

Fay Amaral (CEO Whitecliffe College ANZ) says: "Thank you to Resene for their continued support. This wonderful opportunity is vital for the students to use as a platform to showcase their incredible talent as they launch their careers in sustainable fashion design."

In November students will show their designs at the Whitecliffe College Graduate Showcase in Auckland and Wellington where the winner of this year’s Resene Colour of Fashion project will be announced, receiving a cash prize of $1000 gifted by Resene.

Doula Matheos is Programme Leader at Whitecliffe’s Wellington campus and has guided eleven intakes of newbie designers for Resene Colour of Fashion. She says the project gives students a taste of the real world they are entering when they graduate.

“Graduates of our programmes go on to excel in many roles, as diverse as merchandisers, buyers, costume designers, garment technicians, workroom assistants, patternmakers, machinists, and specialists in products like leatherwear, lingerie, and tailoring.

“Recent alumni are contributing their talents to renowned brands such as Empire Studios, Weta Workshop, Yumei, Stolen Girlfriends Club, and Adrienne Winkelmann, and some have pursued international opportunities. Our curriculum, supported by this project, prepares students for success in the contemporary fashion industry,” she says.

Karen Warman Marketing Manager of Resene says: “We are very proud of this project and we’re thrilled to see it expand giving visibility to even more students this year as they begin their careers.

“We see a new cohort of creative students every year embracing colour and immersing themselves in the story of their Resene colour. This project reminds us of all of the difference colour and design make in our lives. Our new colours are often inspired by the latest fashion looks on the runway, so it’s awesome to see the tables turned and have our colours become the inspiration each year,” she says.

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Resene Colour of Fashion with Whitecliffe

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Find out more about this project throughout the years...

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