The return comes after a different format in 2020. Without NZ Fashion Week, the 2020 Resene Colour of Fashion designs were profiled on Resene street posters around New Zealand rather than on the country’s biggest fashion stage, making sure the opportunity for graduate designers to give visibility to their work wasn’t scuppered by a pandemic.

2021 is a milestone year.

Not only will the judges’ selection grace the Resene Designer Runway shows at the 20th NZ Fashion Week, but the 2021 season will also celebrate the 75th year of Resene being at the forefront of all things colour in New Zealand.

For some of the students, it was less than five years ago they sewed their first stitch. Now they have a chance to see their work on models walking the same runway as the winter 2022 collections of Kate Sylvester, Trelise Cooper and Zambesi.

Diploma students from Whitecliffe Fashion Tech revealed the high quality of their design and construction skills by presenting a work of contemporary fashion in silk fabric in an array of Resene paint colours to the judging panel.

All are super-current. Many reflect a subtle aspect of 1946 – the year Resene began.

Sarah Browning’s tango dress in Resene Tango is a nod to the movie ‘Take the Lead’ where a dance teacher inspires troubled students to imagine new beginnings.

Brenda Woods’ pant suit in Resene Aviator throws light on the bravery of Russia’s 588th Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, a combat unit of female Soviet pilots formed by Major Marina Raskova, reflecting back to 1946 while keeping her design on the cutting-edge of the future of fashion.

In eight years of the Resene Colour of Fashion project more than 220 students of fashion have been given a highly visible platform in the fashion industry on the strength of this partnership between New Zealand’s leading paint and fashion education companies.

Dame Pieter Stewart, founder of NZ Fashion Week joined Liam designer Emily Miller-Sharma, founder of NZ Fashion Tech (now Whitecliffe Fashion Tech) Val Marshall-Smith and Resene marketing manager Karen Warman at the judging table.

The sixteen finalists will open all of the Resene Designer Runway shows at the Auckland Town Hall in the last week of August.

The finalists will also lead Whitecliffe Fashion Tech’s graduate runway show in November, where the 2021 winner will be announced and a prize from Resene presented.

The 2021 project will give all students the opportunity to direct their own portfolio images from behind the camera with professional models.

The project involves undergrads in their final year of study from Whitecliffe campuses in Auckland and Wellington, but the geographical reach is much wider. In the students’ bios, their places of earlier education span the world.

Karen Warman of Resene says: “We love giving these creative young people a headstart in fashion. They immerse themselves in their Resene colour and produce a stunning contemporary look that celebrates the colour and their talent.

“We are thrilled the project this year marks our part in New Zealand’s colour story which started 75 years ago. We can’t wait to see all of the students showcase their work supported by their talented tutors at Whitecliffe, and see them colour up the runway at NZ Fashion Week,” she says.

Whitecliffe Chairman Feroz Ali and new owner of NZ Fashion Week says: “We treasure the long-standing partnership with Resene. Each year, the Resene Colour of Fashion project offers an incredible opportunity for Whitecliffe Fashion Tech students to showcase their skills to the industry, family and friends.”

Resene Whitecliffe Colour of Fashion clothing - 2021

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