Balclutha hair stylist Jennie Hasler-Jacobs has put her entries from the Mataura Licensing Trust Hokonui Fashion Design Awards on display at the Zouave salon in Clyde St where she works.
One of the three garments she entered in the competition received an open merit award for menswear.
"It’s nice to have them up locally," she said.
When it came to designing, she did not have a specific aesthetic.
"I’m actually dictated by the fabric.
"I feel when I’m preparing to create, the fabric kind of speaks to me.
"That’s how I create.
"It’s quite organic."
Ms Hasler-Jacobs won the best use of fabric award in last year’s show.
She received a voucher for a fabric store.
"I went looking in the store and it just so happened there was a sale on.
"I ended up getting a whole heap of fabric which was used on one of my pieces for this year’s show."
Creating garments was a long process and it could take months to complete, she said.
"Deadlines definitely help.
"Sometimes it’s like poking sticks into your eyes and other times it’s a rush.
"When you’re an intensive creator like me, you need goals."
She also enjoyed the social aspect of designing and building connections.
"I’ve been doing this for 15 years and I have met a whole bunch of designers.
"You break boundaries and you meet new people all the time in fashion."
One of her biggest struggles with designing was not always knowing the model who would wear her garments in the shows.
"It’s hard to know if they’re going to wear your piece exactly how you want them to before they walk."
She was on the lookout for dressmakers’ mannequins which she could create her men’s garments on.
"If anyone has anything like that, please let me know."
The pieces would be on display for about four more weeks.
She welcomed people to come along and look at them during the salon’s opening hours.
