On Tuesday 21st September YMCA’s Raise up n Represent youth programme debuted at NZ Fashion Week, with the show, ‘Walk the Line’. The fashion show was an event for teenage designers from the North Shore to enter their garments and showcase their talents in the NZ Fashion Week at the Viaduct Harbour. The show was sold out days before the event - 550 friends, family, media and industry representatives attending. There some spectacular performances in the show by AUT Dance company and a Northcote College Lay Ga Ga group. Also, a singing group of Rosmini students called Admire wooed the crowd as they sang live during the final category.
Walk the Line attracted 44 entries from 11 high schools over the North Shore.
Michelle Isgrove from Long Bay College won the overall title with her sleek black dress entitled “Kuro Creation” dazzling the judges. Katelyn Nelson from Carmel College won the High Fashion category with “A Nod to Preppy Perfection”. Katelyn won the wearable arts section in the 2009 competition. Wearable Arts section 2010 “The Price of Fashion” was taken by the duo of Grace Barlow and Caitlyn Cooper from Long Bay College. “The Flying Kiwi“, designed by Josie Smith from Whangaparaoa College was the winning garment of the Cultural category – a piece inspired by Jean Batton.
Walk the Line was organised by the Raise up crew of YMCA North Shore. They are a group of teenagers, made up of representatives from each North Shore high school who meet weekly to organise events for youth. The aim is to provide opportunities for youth to achieve succeed and grow in a positive environment. Tori Rickard was the youth leader for this event and ran the show with spectacular organisational skills and flare.
Raise up n Represent Co-ordinator Ben Rogers, who oversees the programme and mentors the youth crew meetings said “I am incredibly proud of the youth who organised this event. There really was nothing for me to do, they did it all.”
Overall, the night was filled with creativity, excitement and passion. 68 designers and models, 30 volunteers from YMCA’s Raise up North Shore, 28 make up artists, 17 performers and 5 photographers made up Walk the Line. All young people who gained a great experience in the fashion show industry. Samala Robinson Academy did a fantastic job of providing hair styling and make up services. Thanks also go out to Revlon for providing the main prizes, and to the AUT Dance company for providing performers.
Watch out for the Walk the Line event next year. If you are an up and coming fashion designer, you won’t want to miss out!
Ben Rogers
Raise Up and Leadership Coordinator, North Shore