Ata Te Kanawa, co-founder of Miromoda, a prominent promoter of Māori fashion, sees the cancellation of this year’s New Zealand Fashion Week as an unexpected chance for designers to reassess the caliber of their creations.
Reflecting on past experiences, Te Kanawa acknowledges that the quality of entries, not limited to Maori designers, has sometimes fallen short of expectations. This realization prompted Miromoda to transition from a competitive format to curating its showcase through invitations.
Te Kanawa advocates for aspiring designers to pursue tertiary education in fashion and gain a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s landscape. She believes this holistic perspective is crucial for success in the competitive fashion arena.
While acknowledging the disappointment of designers who had prepared collections for NZ Fashion Week, Te Kanawa remains optimistic. Many designers operate primarily online and will likely weather the cancellation relatively unscathed. Instead, she sees this hiatus as an opportunity for designers to refocus their efforts on enhancing the quality of their work.
The decision to cancel Fashion Week comes in the wake of major designers opting out, underscoring the challenging market conditions currently faced by the industry. This move serves as a stark reminder of the realities of the fashion landscape and the need for adaptability and resilience among designers.
In conclusion, while the cancellation of New Zealand Fashion Week presents a setback for the industry, it also serves as a catalyst for reflection and improvement. Te Kanawa’s advice resonates as a call for designers to seize this moment to elevate their craft and navigate the evolving demands of the fashion market.
