HOKONUI HEATS UP

Southland was once again buzzing with the Hokonui Fashion Awards celebrating their 21st year over the weekend. This year’s judges included Francis Hooper from WORLD, Doosh and Sable & Minx designer Theresa Brady, Charmaine Reveley, Christchurch hair guru Mike Hamel and the irrepressible Rex Turnbull. The supreme winner was a menswear ensemble by Dunedin student Laura Marshall. Inspired by a box jellyfish, the outfit consisted of a jacket incorporating parts of a man's lawn bowling cardigan, a singlet and trousers. Hooper said what separated Marshall’s design from the rest was that she had fully resolved some amazing ideas.  “The winner was a shock to the audience but on the stage you couldn’t see what we saw: beautiful, contemporary, hot, searing fashion,” he says. Brady, the only other menswear designer on the panel, said the decision was unanimous. “The design stood out as a fresh and original, yet simple,” she says.