Classic black big winner at this year’s Villa Maria Cult-Couture Awards

Black was the colour of the night at the annual Villa Maria Cult-Couture design awards last Saturday night with two of the top awards going to variations on the classic black dress.

Judges Rachael Churchward of Black Magazine and designer Adrian Hailwood chose ‘Tino Glam’ by Avondale’s Shona Tawhiao for the Villa Maria Estate Premier Award. A stunning variation on the classic black evening gown, the design featured a woven top hat and bodice and had a distinctive organic hand-crafted look, while retaining the style and glamour of a grand evening occasion.

‘Tino Glam’ also won the Obviously Organic category, presented by Datacom.

The Judges described Shona’s winning design as a striking, beautiful garment to look at, one that epitomises great design, innovation and use of materials. ‘Tino Glam’ met a high standard of haute couture and was perfect in its simplicity. They loved the way it moved on the body and the way in which it evoked the sound and movement of the piupiu.

A smart above-the-knee hand-printed black dress was the winner of the inaugural award for best design by a Manukau designer – Otara’s Genevieve Leitu Pini scooping the award with ‘Self-titled: Queen of the Black Diamonds.’

Genevieve’s design also picked up the Flight of Fantasy category presented by Auckland International Airport Limited.

This year’s awards were held over two nights at Manukau’s TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre. A special preview show on Friday night was followed by the grand finale and awards night on Saturday. Both shows were accompanied by top class entertainment including guest performances by Tina Cross, Che Fu and King Kapisi.

A proud Manukau Mayor Len Brown said “What an amazing display of fashion and creativity. Tonight has been a magnificent reflection of the vibrancy and culture that makes Manukau New Zealand’s most diverse city.”

“The judges have had a difficult job. The imagination and flair of the winning garments were amazing. Congratulations to all of the winners.”

Villa Maria Cult-Couture was made possible by the generosity of the following sponsors: Villa Maria Estate, Auckland International Airport Limited, Datacom, GHD, Manukau City Council Waste Management, Meredith Connell and Cut Above Academy.

List of Award Winners for the 2007 Villa Maria Cult-Couture:

VILLA MARIA ESTATE PREMIER AWARD WINNER:

Tino Glam by Shona Tawhiao



MANUKAU DESIGNER AWARD PRESENTED BY MANUKAU CITY COUNCIL:

Winner: Self-titled: Queen of the Black Diamonds by Genevieve Leitu Pini

Runner Up: Multi-Cultural Fusion by Paula Chan



FLIGHT OF FANTASY CATEGORY PRESENTED BY AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LIMITED:

Winner: Self-titled: Queen of the Black Diamonds by Genevieve Leitu Pini

Runner Up: Ruahine by Bonnie Marshal



FORMALLY YOURS CATEGORY PRESENTED BY MANUKAU CITY COUNCIL:

Winner: Tapa Couture by Viseseo Thomsen

Runner Up: Piwaiwaka by Nicola Vellenoweth



OBVIOUSLY ORGANIC CATEGORY PRESENTED BY DATACOM.

Winner: Tino Glam by Shona Tawhiao

Runner Up: Tupu-a-Rangi by Bonnie Marshal



RECYCLED REVOLUTION CATEGORY PRESENTED BY GHD AND MANUKAU CITY COUNCIL WASTE MANAGEMENT:

Winner: Mai te Tawhito ki te Hou – From the Old to the New by Czarina Wilson

Runner Up: Jean’s a Party Girl Now by Candy Elsmore



ON THE STREETS CATEGORY PRESENTED BY CUT ABOVE ACADEMY:

Winner: Waffley Good by Margaret Lewis

Runner Up: He Ngakau Pango – Black Heart by Maxine Wooldridge



MATRIMONIAL BLISS CATEGORY PRESENTED BY MEREDITH CONNELL:

Winner: Polynesian Bride by Paula Chan

Runner Up: Earth Mother by Tilly’s Students



WINNING DESIGNERS ARE FROM:



MANUKAU

Genevieve Leitu Pini (Otara)

Paula Chan (Mangere Bridge)

Viseseo Thomsen (Manurewa)

Nicola Vellenoweth (Mangere Bridge)

Tilly’s Students (Papatoetoe)



AUCKLAND

Shona Tawhiao (Avondale)

Czarina Wilson (Mt Wellington)

Candy Elsmore (Mt Albert)

Margaret Lewis (Westmere)

Maxine Wooldridge (Glen Innes)



OTHER NORTH ISLAND

Bonnie Marshal (Turangi)