Designers Shine at 2025 MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards

Annalisa Wikitoria McConachie captured the coveted “Mataura Licensing Trust Award of Excellence” at the 2025 MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, held in Gore, New Zealand. The event showcased the innovative designs of local talents, particularly highlighting the collaborative efforts of Dunedin designers Vicki Taylor-Blair and Chris Reeve, who were instrumental in creating this award-winning garment.

The awards ceremony, hosted by actress Antonia Prebble, celebrated the dedication and creativity of designers from Southland. Taylor-Blair, who previously won the same award in 2018, emphasized that her motivation goes beyond winning. “I don’t come to win, I just come for the challenge,” she stated. Her latest creation featured a unique skirt constructed from woven tyre tubes, supported by a robust frame. To attach the heavy structure to straps, she ingeniously used dental floss for its superior strength.

Reeve, a fabric technology teacher at Queen’s High School, remarked on the collaborative process with Taylor-Blair, noting their regular meetings leading up to the competition. “Just on Sundays mostly, and as the time gets closer, we get busier,” she explained. Her students had the opportunity to observe the entire design process, making the experience even more rewarding.

The evening was filled with emotional moments. After initially winning the Avant Garde Award, Reeve expressed her joy, saying, “I thought, this is the best night of my life.” The culmination of their efforts came when they were announced as the winners of the final prize package worth $16,500, prompting tears of joy from both designers.

Another standout of the night was Viv Tamblyn, who received the “Peroni Open Gala Award” for her eye-catching purple quilted puffer creation. This marked her 18th year participating in the competition, and she has consistently proven her talent by winning a section every year, except for one. Despite usually presenting three looks, this year she opted for two, with her second design—a striking all-red pin-tucked garment—taking her at least six months to complete.

Gore local Debbie Smith also made her mark by winning the “Heather Paterson QSM Memorial Trophy – Best Southland Designer Award” for her gown adorned with a horned headpiece. The diversity and creativity of the designs reflected the vibrant fashion culture in the region.

The success of the event was attributed to the hard work of the volunteer organizers, including convener Jacqui McKinney and ambassador, Steve Dunstan, founder of Huffer. The collaborative spirit and innovative designs celebrated at the awards highlight the ongoing growth of Southland’s fashion community, making it a significant event in New Zealand’s creative calendar.