Manukau’s annual fashion event attracted artists and designers from across New Zealand. Organised by Manukau City Council and sponsored by Villa Maria, the awards saw 90 garment designs featured in two shows held in early November (2009).
Entered into the Recycled Revolution category, Lepou’s winning garment was inspired by New Zealand’s unique Pacific identity and the challenges we have with recycling man-made products such as plastics and glass.
“Eco Chic is all about making the most of what we have and what we can afford,” says Lepou, the designer of Polynesian couture label Dencium Compri.
With environmental issues and sustainability being a common catch-cry these days, it’s an appropriate message whole-heartedly endorsed by category sponsor Manukau City Council Waste Management.
The 2009 Manukau Designer Award went to Visesio Louis Thomsen of Manurewa for his garment Lava Princess. The captivating garment was in the Obviously Organic category and the design was inspired by the 1905 volcanic eruption of Mt Matavanu in Samoa.
The judges and full-house audience were entertained by a theatrical evening, with a ‘Paris is Burning’ theme that included outstanding vocal performances from Taisha, Cherie Mathieson and Anna Hawkins.
The event’s six fashion categories were generously sponsored by Datacom, Cut Above Academy, Davis Langdon, Manukau City Council Waste Management, Armourguard Security and Downer EDI Works and Meredith Connell.
Villa Maria Cult-Couture - the Show
Judges: Rachael Churchward (Black Magazine), Murray Bevan (Showroom 22) and Adrian Hailwood (Hailwood)
Performances by: Taisha, Alistair Wilkinson as the Narrator, Cherie Mathieson as the Guide. Anna Hawkins, Apollo Theatre Company, British Guards Marching Team, East Auckland Performing Arts School, The Noh People, Purpose Defined Choir, ReQuest and Thomas Stowers.
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2009 winners
VILLA MARIA ESTATE PREMIER AWARD
Presented by Villa Maria Estate
Winner: Lindah Lepou for Eco Chic
MANUKAU DESIGNER AWARD
Presented by Manukau City Council
Winner: Visesio Louis Thomsen for Lava Princess
FLIGHT OF FANTASY
Presented by Datacom
Runner Up: Maxine Wooldridge & Kristin Leitch for The Wild Rose
Winner: Wooldridge & Kristin Leitch for The Toy Collector
OBVIOUSLY ORGANIC
Presented by Cut Above Academy
Runner Up: Visesio Louis Thomsen for Lava Princess
Winner: Helen Anstis for Magic Mountain Mod
FORMALLY YOURS
Presented by Davis Langdon
Runner Up: Averil Manners and Donna Walford for Madame Pele
Winner: Bianca Paulus for Pacific Pastel Pleats
RECYCLED REVOLUTION
Presented by Manukau City Council Waste Management
Runner Up: Jesame Matara for 1980’s Candy Media
Winner: Lindah Lepou for Eco Chic
ON THE STREETS
Presented by Armourguard Security and Downer EDI Works
Runner Up: Lisa Li for Sinfully Yours
Winner: Sung-Eun Kim for Rain Cloud
MATRIMONIAL BLISS
Presented by Meredith Connell
Runner Up: Yu-Ting Wang for Mary Kay
Winner: Kiri Nathan for Ma Whero Vintage