AUT Rookie Show

By Jessica Beresford You couldn’t tell that only two weeks ago, the garments that glided down the runway at last night’s AUT Rookie show were part of a fashionable scramble of final year students getting their end-of-year collections together. Nor was it obvious that the AUT showroom, now with racks of garments hanging elegantly around its floors, was two weeks ago filled with dozens of students frantically drawing, cutting and sewing. Every year the university selects its crème of the crop to display their collections on a runway, as a chance to introduce the up-and-coming designers to industry professionals. From outrageously creative to effortlessly wearable, this year’s garments filled every nook and cranny in fashion terms, displaying the raw talent that has been breeding in the central location over the years. There were nods to international trends, with Jil Sander-like oversized coats and outrageously colourful Jeremy Scott-esque sportswear, as well as the more modest pieces that fit in so well among New Zealand audiences. Standout collections were Paris Mitchell’s geisha-inspired pieces, Petra Benton’s spots and striped-onesie and Fraser Mildon’s classic white-on-white garments. All the budding designers can be applauded for successful and inspiring collections, signifying the end of a lot of hard work for the students now embarking into the real world.