Liz Mitchell, known for fine tailoring, exquisite wedding gowns and her eponymous label which, in a time when many well-known designers are closing their doors, continues to thrive as it has since 1990.
Ms Mitchell will be one of three judges at the WoolOn fashion event on Saturday, along with Nom*d designer Margi Robertson and luxury merino knitwear label Perriam’s founder Christina Perriam.
While she was excited to be returning, she nearly did not make it last year, Ms Mitchell said.
"I thought I had too much on last year and initially said no."
However, things changed, she did make time to join the judging panel and was excited to be coming back, she said.
"The lovely thing about WoolOn is, it’s a competition for new ideas, innovation with wool.
"It was exciting to see last year."
Seeing what the entries would be this year and promoting wool, which was her passion, made the decision to return an easy one.
All WoolOn entries — whether clothing or accessories — had to be a minimum of 75% wool, which included alpaca, cashmere, Angora goat, mohair and traditional sheep varieties.
"It’s wonderful to have something that is promoting wool, which is my passion.
"It’s such an amazing fibre — it’s got such potential and we have somehow had our eye off it for quite a long time."
Seeing people create their own materials for WoolOn, whether it was felting, weaving, knitting or crocheting, was fascinating.
"I’m not sure what we’re going to see so I’m excited to be coming back down again.
"I’m looking forward to being surprised."
While there were various wearable arts competitions, WoolOn was a fashion show.
Putting collections on the runway and getting feedback was a huge part of evolving as a designer, she said.
Last year’s overall winner was Jane Avery with a trio of outer garments in felted merino wool and gold embroidery.
Those garments were totally unexpected and had led to her work being showcased in Canada, Ms Mitchell said.
The domination of synthetic fibres in the fashion world, garments’ short life-spans and lack of responsibility for the landfills full of things that would be around forever deeply concerned her, she said.
Wool garments could be handed down through the generations, repaired, altered if the wearer changed size and ultimately be returned to the earth if there was no wear left in them.
"It’s a really beautiful, circular, sustainable material."
While wool garments might be more expensive initially, their long life, or cost per wear, made them economical.
