Tyres and dental floss prove winning combination
A garment made from the inner tubes of bicycle tyres and dental floss won the top prize at this year's MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.
Dunedin duo Vicki Taylor-Blair and Chris Reeve won the "Mataura Licensing Trust Award of Excellence" award in Gore on Saturday night for their design.
The hours of hard work and inventive ideas of Southland designers and makers were also recognised.
Hairdresser Ms Taylor-Blair won the same prize in 2018 alongside other accolades in the competition in the 12 years she has been involved.
"I don't come to win, I just come for the challenge," she said. "I just love to see my work coming down the catwalk."
She said the skirt was made with the woven tyre tubes. Then underneath was a frame. To sew the heavy structure to straps she had to use dental floss for its strength.
The pair have entered the competition together as well as individually in previous years.
Mrs Reeve said they usually get together once a week, until the competition deadline looms closer.
"Just on Sundays mostly and, as the time gets closer, we get busier," Mrs Reeve said.
Mrs Reeve works as a fabric technology teacher at Queen's High School and said her students had watched the garment come to life.
"[They] have been watching this whole thing grow," she said.
After some nerves over how the dress would show on the runway, Mrs Reeve was happy enough to win the Avant Garde Award earlier in the evening.
"I thought, this is the best night of my life," she said.
When she and Ms Taylor-Blair won the final, $16,500 prize package, tears were shed.
"I was definitely crying," she said.
Another winner on the night was Viv Tamblyn from Gore who won the "Peroni Open Gala Award" for her purple quilted puffer creation.
It was Ms Tamblyn's 18th year competing. She had won a section every year bar one, she said.
Ms Tamblyn usually has three looks in the competition, but this year it was "only" two.
She said she took two months off after the competition before starting again.
Her second look, an all-red pin-tucked garment, took her at least six months, she said.
Another Gore local Debbie Smith won the "Heather Paterson QSM Memorial Trophy - Best Southland Designer Award" for her gown with horned headpiece.
The evening was emceed by Outrageous Fortune actress Antonia Prebble, who took time to honour the awards' volunteer organisers, convener Jacqui McKinney and ambassador, Huffer founder Steve Dunstan.
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Tyres and dental floss prove winning combination
Annalisa Wikitoria McConachie (second left) wears the 2025 MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards "Award of Excellence" winning garment, flanked by designers Vicki Taylor-Blair (left) and Chris Reeve. Awards emcee Antonia Prebble is also pictured. PHOTO: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING A garment made from the inner tubes of bicycle tyres and dental floss won the top prize at this year's MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards. Dunedin duo Vicki Taylor-Blair and Chris Reeve won the "Mataura Licensing Trust Award of Excellence" award in Gore on Saturday night for their design. The hours of hard work and inventive ideas of Southland designers and makers were also recognised. Hairdresser Ms Taylor-Blair won the same prize in 2018 alongside other accolades in the competition in the 12 years she has been involved. "I don't come to win, I just come for the challenge," she said. "I just love to see my work coming down the catwalk." She said the skirt was made with the woven tyre tubes. Then underneath was a frame. To sew the heavy structure to straps she had to use dental floss for its strength. The pair have entered the competition together as well as individually in previous years. Mrs Reeve said they usually get together once a week, until the competition deadline looms closer. "Just on Sundays mostly and, as the time gets closer, we get busier," Mrs Reeve said. Mrs Reeve works as a fabric technology teacher at Queen's High School and said her students had watched the garment come to life. "[They] have been watching this whole thing grow," she said. After some nerves over how the dress would show on the runway, Mrs Reeve was happy enough to win the Avant Garde Award earlier in the evening. "I thought, this is the best night of my life," she said. When she and Ms Taylor-Blair won the final, $16,500 prize package, tears were shed. "I was definitely crying," she said. Another winner on the night was Viv Tamblyn from Gore who won the "Peroni Open Gala Award" for her purple quilted puffer creation. It was Ms Tamblyn's 18th year competing. She had won a section every year bar one, she said. Ms Tamblyn usually has three looks in the competition, but this year it was "only" two. She said she took two months off after the competition before starting again. Her second look, an all-red pin-tucked garment, took her at least six months, she said. Another Gore local Debbie Smith won the "Heather Paterson QSM Memorial Trophy - Best Southland Designer Award" for her gown with horned headpiece. The evening was emceed by Outrageous Fortune actress Antonia Prebble, who took time to honour the awards' volunteer organisers, convener Jacqui McKinney and ambassador, Huffer founder Steve Dunstan.
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