Tauranga designer makes it onto the big stage
Wednesday 13 July 2016, 11:04AM
By Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
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Glen Maclachlan is about to hit the big time after being asked to show his new collection at New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW).
A Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Bachelor of Design (Fashion) graduate, Glen was one of the short-listed entrants who faced a panel of judges to vie for a place in the exclusive Miromoda (the Indigenous Māori Fashion Apparel Board) Showcase. 2016 judges included Adrian Hailwood, Jack Yan and head judge Dame Pieter Stewart. Glen was awarded second place in the Emerging Designer section.
Glen has now been chosen by Miromoda as one of 10 designers (and the only local designer) to showcase their collections at NZFW.
On from 22 August, NZFW is a platform for kiwi designers to promote their collections to international buyers and media, as well as demonstrate their unique style. Over 50,000 people congregate at Auckland Viaduct Event Centre over the week to celebrate fashion and everything it has to offer.
“This event gives emerging fashion designers a real chance of exposure. I like to set goals and this year it was getting exposure for my label,” says Glen.
Glen, the founder of fashion label Mac Vicious Society (MVS), grew up in small-town Otorohanga and has spent a lot of time exploring New Zealand and travelling the world. A full-time single parent, Glen currently works as fabric cutter at a knitwear company based in Tauranga.
“I’ve always had a desire to become a fashion designer. Even when I was growing up in small-town New Zealand I would try and be different from what was happening in fashion at the time.”
Glen’s collection is entirely handmade and the money he makes from selling his designs goes into creating more garments. Soon he will be launching the MVS label in larger quantities and aims to have his clothing in retail stores by early 2017.
“Everyone who has made it big had to start from something small. To be chosen for NZFW and have the opportunity to show my Winter ‘17 collection to some amazing buyers is priceless. I would love for some national and maybe even international stockists to pick up MVS after the event,” says Glen.