And now it is hitting the road.
A selection of garments and images from the Eden Hore Central Otago Collection will go on display at one of New Zealand’s leading contemporary art galleries this December.
The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt will stage "Eden Hore: High Fashion/High Country" between December 4 and March 20 next year as part of the museum’s full-year 50th anniversary programme.
The exhibition will feature a selection of the most striking garments from the collection, alongside large scale photographs and moving images from a specially commissioned fashion shoot in Central Otago by internationally renowned photographer Derek Henderson.
The Eden Hore Central Otago Collection of 276 items was bought by the Central Otago District Council in 2013.
Recognising it is an important part of the cultural and historic fabric of Central Otago, the council
purchase allowed the collection to remain intact and within its Central Otago home.
Work is under way to develop a range of visitor experiences within Central Otago that bring the collection to life and celebrate the unique stories that surround it.
This includes profiling the story of the high country farmer from Naseby who assembled the items over three decades.
An integral part of making ideas a reality is fundraising.
An exhibition at the Dowse is a perfect opportunity to raise the profile of the collection nationally, which in turn is hoped to lead to partnerships and funding opportunities to help support the collection, its future and visitor experiences.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said there was good reason for the collection to be showcased out of region.
“This is a nationally significant collection but there is a lot more to the Eden Hore Central Otago story than just the garments.
“This exhibition at one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s great art spaces will create nationwide awareness of both the collection and the rich stories that surround it," he said.
"This is a golden opportunity to promote our ‘World Of Difference’ on the national stage, demonstrating there is much more to this place than wine, fruit and cycle trails."
