Racks of embellished outfits filled the backstage space of Shed 10 as eight budding designers steam and sew last minute touches, selected by an expert panel to showcase in the Giltrap Future of Fashion show.
Designer Winnie Solomon described it as a dream. "I'm excited, I'm nervous, I feel so proud to be showing this in front of my family, friends and future prospects."
Zoe Langley is in her third year of fashion school and grateful for the foot in the door. "Just to be involved with the industry at this stage in my career is just incredible. I'm so lucky."
The runway seats around 680 industry experts, celebrities, family and friends.
A dedicated show for young talent has been running for the last few years.
Finalists stood out for many reasons according to creative director Dan Ahwa. "They're all quite unique in their own design, instead of, but also their confidence that each of them spoke to in terms of their business plans."
The young creatives not only gain access to the runway but also mentorship on navigating the industry.
Each designer chose eight looks, Langley said each has hours of creativity behind them.
"This piece here is completely recycled material that I've coated in latex and hand stitched together."
Solomon credits her love of fashion to her family, naming her womenswear label Winnie Catherine after her two great grandmothers.
Earlier this year, Solomon was named Emerging New Zealand Fashion Designer of the Year for Remix Magazine.
"There is this video of me when I was like nine saying that I wanted to be a fashion designer like Trelise Cooper and I'm wearing my mum's mini cooper heels which are like five times too big."
The Māori designer was awarded the top prize by judges in Thursday's Future of Fashion show.
Three more days of fashion shows are scheduled at Shed 10 on Auckland's waterfront.
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