Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
2 days ago
New Zealand Fashion Week gave five EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion) students a first-hand taste of the industry and the chance to see top designers in action.
Lily Wixx (19), Candice D’Acre (Ngāti Porou, 33), Emma Bodley (21), Zoe Bower (24) and Lani Cunningham (20) joined hundreds of volunteers backstage and front of house, helping bring some of the country’s leading fashion shows to life.
Candice and Zoe worked as dressers, liaising with designers to dress models ready for the runway.
EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion) students Zoe Bower, Emma Bodley, Lilith Wixx, Candice D’Acre and Lani Cunningham (right) with NZ Fashion Week Board Member and Showroom 22 Director Murray Bevan at the opening show of NZFW ‘Into The Archives: Two Decades of New Zealand style’.
“It was really fun to see how everything works backstage,” Candice said. “It was organised chaos with everyone running around, make-up touch-ups happening while we were trying to dress models, and then quick changes where you had to get them out of one outfit and into the next in seconds. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the production side of fashion.”
Emma, Lily and Lani were stationed as ushers, guiding guests, checking tickets, and catching glimpses of rehearsals and shows from the front of house.
Lily said she enjoyed seeing what people were wearing not only on the runway but in the crowd.
“It was inspiring, the outfits, the way people carried themselves, and the different vibes of each show.”
Emma added: “It was amazing to see the professionalism when the lights came up and the music started.”
The students experienced shows by leading designers including Karen Walker, Zambesi, Catherine Wilson, Claudia Li and Adrian Atelier, as well as the Future of Fashion showcase, which highlighted emerging talent.
For Candice, the experience was validating.
“It made me realise this is something I can really do. I want to be a fashion designer and seeing that you do not necessarily need a big factory or team, some designers did it all themselves, reinforced that it is possible.”
Emma hopes to apply her skills to upholstery and eventually run her own boutique, while Lily is considering pursuing both design and modelling.
IDEAschool Fashion Lecturer Christina Rhodes said she was proud of the students and the positive feedback they received.
“They really worked hard, and the organisers spoke highly of them. For me, it was amazing to watch their work ethic and how they threw themselves into it. Opportunities like this are invaluable.”
She said the experience complemented the practical, hands-on approach of the Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion), which prepares students for careers across the fashion industry.
Candice agreed.
“I am an EIT fan girl through and through. The person I was when I started to the person I am now is so different.”
She added that the programme offered more than she expected.
“If you like fashion at all, then you should be doing this course at EIT. The opportunities are bigger than you think. It is not just about being a fashion designer. You gain skills that open doors to styling, marketing, upholstery, modelling, PR, event coordination and more.”
The students agree that the experience gave them insights not only into how Fashion Week operates, but also into how they might run their own future shows.
“It highlighted what is really important to get right, from lighting and staging to organisation backstage,” Candice said. “We can take that forward into our own end-of-year runway show at EIT.”
Emma added that the best part was connecting with others in the industry.
“We met so many people, made contacts, and got to see the industry up close. I would definitely do it again.”
