Supreme winner ‘thrilled’ with response to coats

Winning WoolOn’s Supreme Award came as a complete surprise to the Earnscleugh designer who won a total of four awards at the weekend.

Jane Avery. PHOTOS: SHANNON THOMSON

"This is the first thing I’ve ever won in my life. Wow. Actually, I think I won a chocolate ... in a sharp shooting rifle thing ... it’s mind blowing," Jane Avery said.

"I’m thrilled, it’s amazing to see such a great result for my coats."

Her entry Heart Felt took the Supreme Award, chosen by the panel of judges made up of New Zealand fashion icon Liz Mitchell, Touch Yarns founder Marnie Kelly and ReCreate Clothing creative director Marielle Van der Ven, both of Central Otago, as well as winning People’s Choice both nights of the show as well as the Collections category.

Mrs Avery said the three garments - two coats and a jacket - were a collaboration with Callum and Dayna Paterson, who run 25,000 merino sheep on Ida Valley Station, after they approached her to work with their merino wool.

The Ida Valley Station wool was hand-felted into panels by Shona Schofield, of Ashburton, before being hand-beaded by Mrs Avery then made into garments.

Modelling her own creation on the catwalk at WoolOn, at The Canyon at Tarras, is Isabella Miscisco who won the Special Occasion category and the Emerging Designer School Award.

Two were trimmed with wild rabbit fur, which reflected Mrs Avery’s training in Dunedin with Mooneys Furs.

Held on Friday and Saturday nights, WoolOn showcased breathtaking creativity in garments using a minimum of 75% wool in their construction.

Winner of the Emerging Designer School Award and Special Occasion category was 17-year-old Cromwell College head girl Isabella Miscisco, of Cromwell, who crocheted a merino and metallic thread gown which she modelled on the catwalk.