This is NZFW 2013: Day Four (plus DMONIC INTENT’s A.O.K. Show)

The Miromoda Showcase was my most anticipated event of the week – partly because I had some friends who were showing their new collection and partly because I get really excited about seeing other Māori artists succeeding!

Mitchell Vincent
With a stunning all white collection, Mitchell Vincent kicked off the show in style. I loved the layering and different textures of the pieces, particularly the sheer fabrics. I’m excited about bringing more white in to my wardrobe for winter next year! Mitchell Vincent is definitely someone I’ll be keeping my eye on (and can I just take a moment to mention that he has the most beautiful black on black business cards? Swoon!).

DMONIC INTENT
It’s no secret that these gals are my all-time faves. If you’re a regular on my blog then you will have seen them pop up a few times here and there. I was super excited about their latest collection VEIN (so much so that I even had my nails done in tribute!), so I didn’t really take pictures during the show. I sat back and enjoyed marvelling at the collection without having to snap a billion photos. A couple of days later, I went up to DMONIC INTENT’s Cross Street Arcade store NAKED Empire | The Style Syndicate to catch the show they were putting on as part of A.O.K day, where they showed VEIN to the public and unveiled their new streetwear label, SYRE. If you want to know more about SYRE, see my post on nzgirl.

Uh, so where was I? Oh that’s right, VEIN. Neon pinks and yellows punctuated sedate monochrome, greys and navy – pretty much my favourite colour palette ever. The silhouettes were true to DMONIC style, and amazing hats were the order of the day. There was a lot of beautiful texture, and while they still retain their avant garde style, their clothes are becoming more wearable for every day. Fabulous.

Leilani Rickard
Reptile inspired prints in burnt oranges and bright greens adorn Leilani Rickard’s coats and ponchos. The garments really emphasise the feminine form, and definitely look like the kind of thing I’d like to try on…

Hori
I really like it when designers bring in some kind of performance aspect in to their show, and Hohepa Thompson did that by having some of his models throw paper planes in to the audience. This was the perfect way to get the audience involved in a show where the prints on the clothing were “based on Maori who have left our fair shores in search for a better life in Australia.” The models wore traditional style grass skirts paired with Hori t-shirts and sweatshirts, which combined tradition with contemporary fashion, further instilling the message about Maori leaving behind their culture and homeland for a new way of life.

Pia Boutique
Pia Naera’s clothing was bright and fresh with amazing blues and pinks that really stand out.  I loved the super feminine designs that highlighted the curves of the models, and the mix of lush silk and sheer fabrics.

MUKA
Kylie Mangan’s collection was filled with dark colours and tartans that reminded me of the black watch tartan I wore at boarding school, but her designs were definitely far removed from my schoolgirl days. Beautifully cut trousers, dresses, tops and jackets came together to create a line of very wearable pieces, which would not be out of place in the office.  I think that workwear is something that we as New Zealanders can tend to be a bit boring with, and MUKA does a great job of making clothing that is work appropriate clothing but still extremely fashionable!

Adrienne Whitewood
Okay, so wow! I’m pretty much totally in love with Adrienne Whitewood right now.  How’s this for amazing: mint, inky blue and raspberry in chiffon, wool and silk. I loved the geometric designs, the piupiu inspired detailing, and how beautifully the garments move. I’d love to wear everything in this collection, so please start doing plus sizes Adrienne! Also, that biker jacket = amazing. I can’t even rave about this collection enough, check out the video and see for yourself…

Mimi Designs
I really liked the combination of earthy tones and metallics in Australian designer Mia Brennan’s collection. It was sophisticated, modern and absolutely stunning.

Grace Lee
Grace Lee was the second of the guest Australian designers, and her collection was filled with beautiful pastels and flowing silks printed with intricate tribal designs. I loved the knotwork that adorned the models, and am looking forward to seeing more from this designer.

All in all, I have to say that I was really impressed with the  Miromoda Showcase. We have some amazingly talented indigenous designers, and I think that everyone who was part of this show is going to go a long way. Keep your eye on these designers! I apologise for the lack of photos, but I just got too excited about seeing all the amazing designs coming down the runway! I think sometimes it’s important to put down the camera and just absorb the moment. Thankfully, you can watch the whole Miromoda Showcase here thanks to 3 News.

What was your favourite collection in the Miromoda Showcase? Any particular stand-out pieces?

x Meagan

Images: Meagan Kerr Photography
© Meagan Kerr 2013