Border residents have left their mark at the Natural Fibre Fashion Awards, with two taking out top honours in their respective fashion forward fields.
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Wodonga’s Cathy Upton took out the accessory category with what judges described as “the best felting” they’d ever seen.
Mrs Upton said it took about 15 hours to create her winning design.
“I’m pretty chuffed with the comments,” she said.
Wodonga TAFE fashion design student Anne Bilston won the student category with a pleated spotty dress.
Wagga’s Karen Hyde won the millinery category with her hand made floral design.
Ms Hyde has been a feature of the fibre fashion for the past three years.
“I’ve been lucky to be in the finals before, but haven’t won so it’s very exciting,” she said.
“It’s all completely handmade, the flowers are handmade silk roses, no machines are used.
“The roses take a very long time because each petal must be done separately – luckily i enjoy it.”
Ms Hyde has created hats for about eight years.
Model and Billabong High School student Gina Heritage, 16, Holbrook, said her confidence had been given a real boost from her experience.
“It was a bit nerve wracking at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets,” she said.
“At first you think people are looking at you, but then after a while you realise they’re looking at the clothes and we’re just the mannequins.”
Ashleigh Mulloy, 16, from Holbrook said she had always wanted to be a model and thought of this as a first step into what one day could be a career.
“I’ve definitely gained a whole lot of confidence out of this,” she said.
“At first I was even scared of Peta.”
- with The Land