Preparations for the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards are in full swing, with an army of volunteers and 30 models dedicating every weekend during the run-up to the event, getting ready.

For the past two weekends, entries into the awards have been unpacked and models fitted into the garments.

The event will be held on July 27 and 28.

The wardrobe team, headed by Helen McCurdy and Francis Michels and overseen by executive producer Heather Paterson are being helped by other volunteers to ensure everything is ready.

They must organise about 300 garments into various categories. The garments have been submitted by 215 individual designers.

Ms Paterson said the entries were of an outstanding quality this year.

"Not only have we received a record number of entries and garments, but they have come from Northland to Southland and we have even received one from an ex-Southlander now living in Japan," she said.

Entrants ranged from primary school, secondary school and design school students through to enthusiastic and talented designers of all ages.

The awards were all about giving designers the opportunity to express their creativity, which they had done, Ms Paterson said.

"Some of the designs are very wearable, but other garments are pushing the boundaries".

Like other years, the Steampunk section had a strong number of detailed designs that would prove popular with the audience.

"The denim section has some incredible pieces, while other sections feature all manner of materials including leather and plastic," she said.

Wool was also popular with many entrants, with outstanding design skills and techniques used to create stunning garments.

Models spent last weekend being fitted for the garments, and choreographer Rebecca Gutschlag has provided tips on the perfect catwalk stride.

To help the running order of the event, models have been assigned a number and photographed in each garment.

Ms Paterson said the judges' task of selecting the final 200 garments to make the catwalk would be quite difficult this year and would take a considerable amount of time.

Finalists will be contending for their slice of the $34,000 prize fund, with the overall winner taking away a prize package worth about $12,000.

The Hokonui Strictly Design Evening will take place on July 27, while the Hokonui Gala Awards Evening on July 28 was sold out.

Tickets for the Friday night event were still on sale at the Gore i-SITE.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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