Designer’s dream run
“Incredible” was how local resident Stephanie Saxton described her experience at New Zealand Fashion Week last week. The 24-year-old designer from Athenree staged a runway show at the event. She says it went better that she could have imagined. “The positive response was overwhelming and I am so grateful.”
New Zealand Fashion Week was better than she had envisioned, designer Stephanie Saxton says.
The young Athenree designer was selected to be part of the 2018 week-show held in Auckland between August 27 and September 2.
She presented her activewear and swimwear collection from her Saltysea Design company she created in her Western Bay home.
Her runway show lasted only 10 minutes but it was well-planned.
“The entire experience came and went so quickly. There is a huge build-up and a lot of work to prepare for the show, as well as following our show,” she says.
Looking back on the experience, Stephanie says she feels a sense of fulfillment.
“Down to the very details of how the entrance would look when the runway filled with smoke and my good friend and model Ashley Shore took that first step when Black Betty by Ram Jam dropped the beat . . . and it was exactly how I envisioned, but better.
“I never knew how I would react, or what it would feel like to finally see all the hard work in action — but it felt great!” she says.
With Saltysea being an adventureinspired lifestyle brand, the designer collaborated with other talents for the show.
“Brining together people from our community with Matt Bear, Founder of BearBones Surf Co sitting in the front row watching his custom-made surf boards come down the runway, to Zoe Davies, Founder of Caja Jewellery seeing all her pieces on each of the models was not only an incredibly special feeling for me, but also the people working in collaboration with us.”
Stephanie says she also received support from the local community and businesses with staff from Waihi Beach’s Farm Gate Deli, Soul Beauty salon, local builders and friends.
“I am so grateful to every single one of them.
“There’s something special to be said that the greatness of our community is accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, and here in the Bay of Plenty that shows,” she says.
Stephanie is now looking ahead to bring more Saltysea creations into the national and international fashion scene.