As befits a green mayor, Celia Wade-Brown will walk The Hobbit red carpet in jewellery made of recycled gold.

Wellington designers are gearing up to dress the stars at next week's premiere, with their work set for global exposure.

Aro St jeweller Dorthe Kristensen, from Vilders Gallery, got the job of making jewellery for the mayor via Starfish designer Laurie Foon, who is making the dress. "She asked if I would like to make something to complement her dress."

Kristensen went for a Pacific Island flavour, hand-crafting earrings, a bracelet, and necklace made of gold, silver, and black pearls.

The pearls were farmed, the gold recycled, and the jewellery made in her Wellington workshop.

Foon said the mayor's gown would be simple, classic and regal.

The 1950s-inspired full-length dress, which will be sapphire-coloured with a one-metre train, is not ready to be photographed, though the mayor has had three fittings so far.

Ms Wade-Brown said there was a good choice of designers in Wellington, with an emphasis on sustainable fabrics and business practices, and Starfish was a good example.

"Starfish offered to dress me for the occasion," she said.

"The dress and jewellery are great examples of Wellington's creativity and flair for good design, and it's an exciting opportunity to showcase this on the red carpet."

Mandatory's Clare Bowden has been busy putting suits together for Kiwi actors Peter Hambleton and Stephen Hunter, who both play dwarfs.

The theme for the premiere was "festive", which gave plenty of scope for creative flair, she said.

Hambleton's suit featured a black-check pattern paired with a Pasifika-themed bow tie.

"It's very exciting to have New Zealand-designed and produced garments going around the world," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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