Amy Parsons-King talks to Vicki Taylor-Blair about her path to fashion success.
Hairdressing and fashion often go hand-in-hand, and for Vicki Taylor-Blair her career as a hair-stylist was the catalyst for her becoming an award-winning fashion designer.
At the age of 4, Taylor-Blair told her mother that she was going to be a hairdresser when she grew up. This affinity for cutting and styling hair from such an early age was sparked by her father giving her long-haired ''walkie talkie'' dolls.
''My father was a seaman and he'd bring me home these most amazing dolls from the US and Singapore, and I'd cut their hair. Back then there was a dolly doctor in Moray Pl and the owner would often joke I kept him in business because he was constantly having to re-thread their hair,'' Taylor-Blair said.
With an inherent passion for hair, Taylor-Blair began a hairdressing apprenticeship at age 18 and has gone on to enjoy a 40-year career in the industry, working at a variety of local salons, including Shampers, Tiffany's and Why Not Hair.
In 2000, she moved with her husband and two sons to Karitane, where she purchased the Palmerston hair salon Taj.
After running that for seven years, she decided to return to Dunedin, where she joined the team at Zucca Hair on George St, running her own business from there.
It was during her time at Why Not Hair that Taylor-Blair began entering hair competitions, which prompted her to start creating garments to accompany her looks.
''With hairdressing comps the judges look at the overall look you've created, not just the hair. I found it was hard to source avant garde outfits in Dunedin, so I would buy second-hand clothing and deconstruct it.''
Deconstructing second-hand clothing for competitions led her to eventually make items for herself, friends and family.
Her youngest son, who works in the music industry, was particularly interested in her designs.
''I'd buy clothes and take sleeves off, add pleats, hoods and buttons to make them my own. My son was really into what I was making because he's a musician and likes to look good while performing.''
Taylor-Blair's passion for creating menswear steadily grew, however she felt frustrated at her lack of practical skills, so in 2013 she began sewing and pattern-drafting classes.
That same year she entered the menswear category at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, creating a forest-green leather jacket with cable-knit sleeves, hood and denim insert. It was worn with jeans and a printed T-shirt.
Although she didn't receive an award, she was hooked after seeing her garments on the runway.
''The fact I even got into the awards was really cool! Seeing my clothes on the catwalk was indescribable - it was so exhilarating, so as soon as the awards were over I was already planning my entry for next year.''
The following year, Taylor-Blair's determination and skill were rewarded when she received a highly commended and a design merit award.
This year Taylor-Blair entered three categories - menswear, wool and night-life - at the Hokonui awards, and was successful in the menswear and wool categories.
In the wool section, where she was again highly commended, she created a twisted French woolcoat in dusky pink, comprising hand-knitted sleeves and collar, with a metallic wool backing.
''It felt fabulous to receive highly commended, especially because this was the first time I'd entered something in that category,'' she said.
While Taylor-Blair was delighted with her result in the wool section, she was positively ecstatic when she was named as the overall winner in the menswear category for her ''Border Coat'' - a double-breasted silver denim jacket with cotton-drill Mexican-inspired pleated back and wide silver belt.
''As if I wasn't already excited enough placing in the wool section, winning menswear was overwhelming. Denise L'Strange, the designer from WORLD, was one of the judges and said that the coat really stood out to her. She's one of my favourite designers, so getting such positive feedback from her was amazing.''
For winning the menswear section, Taylor-Blair received a trophy and $1000 prizemoney, which she plans to put towards creating her entry for next year's awards.
