Natural Fibre Fashion awards attract designs from abroad

Among 71 entries ranging from hats and pant-suits to wedding dresses, two New Zealand designers put their garments to the test.

But it was a creation from a Deniliquin woman which took home the $2000 prize with a win in the supreme category for a red and blue number.

Jane Frazer, who wasn't there to receive her award on the day, took out the top spot with a modern dress worn by Billabong High School model Phoebe Crilly.

The dark blue skirt was made from 100 per cent wool coating stitched with contrasting heavy cotton thread.

A lace bodice was trimmed with red stitching and a band and the garment was complimented with a necklace made with wool inserts.

The judges said her attention to detail is what set her design apart from the rest.

Judge David Tester said the quality finish of the dress gained it the number one award.

“It was a clever design and it was different,” Mr Tester said.

“The winner has to be something that sets itself apart.

“The colours this year were modern, youthful and vibrant and she managed to make the wool fibre look denim-like.”

Categories in this year's parade included a student winner, accessory award, knitted and crocheted garments, head-wear and the supreme award which goes to an overall winner.

The judges struggled to decide all five categories attributing quality and variety to their lengthy discussions. 

Despite the strong competition in this year's show, Mr Tester said it was disappointing to hear designers often had great difficulty accessing materials.

“A lot of designers and students have said they have had trouble getting good quality and coloured natural fibres,” he said.

“So many of them have been incorporating their own print and colouring techniques.”

The show drew in a crowd to the Country Lifestyle shed and was praised as being a great showcase of the wool industry.