Embracing reusable future
The new season of TVNZ’s Project Runway will boast a southern connection, having three former fashion students from the Southern Institute of Technology.
The trio are Matt Costello, Lenon Wakuwa and Peni Moala.
Costello said growing up being a ‘‘traditional kiwi bloke’’ had set him apart in the fashion industry.
The 26-year-old, from Nelson, said his girlfriend initially signed him up for Project Runway thinking he needed a push in life.
‘‘I was like there’s no way I’d be good enough for it.’’
Costello studied at the institute for three years and said when he started the course he didn’t even know how to sew.
‘‘They taught me the bread and butter of fashion, it was like learning another language.’’
Having many passions, from fishing and hunting to jiu jitsu and fashion, created an individual style, he said.
‘‘I do jiu jitsu and fashion, so I can design clothes and kick your arse at the same time.’’
Costello’s inspiration to compete on the show was to create positive change and promote the idea that any one could do fashion.
Southern Institute of Technology fashion tutor Emma Cathcart said she was proud of the three former students.
‘‘It’s a great feeling, we’re all so excited to see what happens and what dramas there will be.’’
Cathcart said SIT had seen many female designers, but very few male designers.
‘‘It’s very interesting that they are all males, we didn’t have many males on the course.’’
For Wakuwa, fashion is a way of life and starring on New Zealand’s Project Runway could be the key to getting there.
From growing up in Zimbabwe to studying fashion at SIT, Wakuwa has always been passionate about fashion.
Being gender-fluid, Wakuwa said finding clothes that fitted properly and were fashionable was difficult, so began Wakuwa’s foray in to fashion.
‘‘There aren’t enough clothes on the market that can be worn by men and women.’’ Wakuwa said it was exciting to be a part of the internationally known Project Runway series.
‘‘Being on the show will get people to see my style and talent.
‘‘It’s the perfect place for opportunity. This is something that will open that door.’’ While studying a bachelor of fashion at SIT, Wakuwa said the dream changed from just making well fitting clothes to wear herself, to wanting a place in New Zealand’s fashion industry.
‘‘It’s a lifestyle, I wasn’t expecting to find a job in the industry, I did it to make my own clothes and then after I studied I wanted to work in the industry.’’
Wakuwa’s motto for the way to live her life is: ‘‘Life is a catwalk, the world is your runway, and you are a super model’’. From supermarkets banning plastic bags to plastic straws nearly being a thing of the past, 2018 could be the year recycling becomes a common topic and it’s a brewing concept in Southland.
One Invercargill cafe is taking reusable takeaway coffee cups one step further.
The cups, owned by The Auction House, are free to use for regular customers, as long as they are brought back to the cafe.
It was an easy choice for owner Judy McNeilly to introduce the reusable items. She has had the cups in circulation for about two months and said her customers were very keen on the idea. ‘‘They’ve been a great success. ‘‘Most people want to save the environment.’’
The cups are made of glass, and when brought back, they are washed and reused for the next customer.
Instead of offering cups for sale, McNeilly said she didn’t want to charge her regular customer base to be conscious of the environment.
‘‘It was never about how much it cost, I wanted to save on wasting the cups and wanted to give people that environmental alternative.’’
She said she was happy to sell the cups to non-regular customers.
McNeilly said she was always looking for other ways to recycle and cut down on the cafe’s environmental footprint, bringing in compostable bags, wooden takeaway cutlery and recyclable containers.
Since opening the Auction House last year, she noticed her customers’ mindset had changed. ‘‘From when I had Three Bean [Cafe] to now having this place, people are more aware of it. People will refuse a plastic bag until they know it’s recyclable.’’ There was much more to be done in the push towards being environmentally friendly, McNeilly said.
‘‘I’m trying to do away with as much plastic as we can.’’ Charlie’s Kitchen owner Sandra Skeggs said her business swapped to a corn-based recyclable bag because the environmental effects of plastic were getting too high. ‘‘They cost more but it’s nothing compared to the cost on the environment.’’