Seating politics, the chase of golden hour for the street style hustlers, to a simple mantra whispered to me years ago. “Protect your mana.” It’s something that industry titan Dan Ahwa said to me in a showroom when I first started in the fashion industry. I still remember it. Now as New Zealand Fashion Week’s Creative Director, that sentiment is something the entire industry can feel as the guiding star of this week’s shows.
From the good kind of tears (even from the entire front-row) at Makaira Lee’s debut of her label BY KAI, to the play of light on fringe in motion at Juliette Hogan, pirate-play by Emma Jing at The Studio, and a homecoming back to Shed 10 with caps and gowns by Twenty-Seven Names — it’s been a week.
Designer Lavinia ’Ilolahia of Daīna Hugh backstage at Kāhui Collective
To understand the ecosystem of Aotearoa’s fashion industry is to celebrate the intimacy at hand. It’s an industry that is small in scale, yet this works in its favour by breeding a steadfast loyalty and purehearted yearning from even the top dogs to simply: Show Up and Support. That tightly woven string spreads from seasoned attendees to the new guard of models, such as Zara Sykes and Sophie Song who you’ll spot walking nearly every show. You’ll also get to find them backstage at the next show, ready for a cuddle and a gossip. That’s the beauty of it.
Over the years, my fashion week identity has shifted from volunteer, front-of-house PR (you never forget who yells at you), afterparty crasher, and simple mere guest — all of it is magic. My learnings? Go to as many shows as you can, but equally to the afterparties. You’ll find yourself in corners of random rooms, slightly delirious at the end of long days with old friends, but possibly at the scene of an old Fashion Week wives tale to come.
By Yawynne Yem
