NZ Fashion Tech Student Profiles Indian Apparel and Textile Practicum 24 June 2016 – 7 August 2016

2

Introduction The NZ Institute of Fashion Technology Director, Val Marshall-Smith, is delighted to introduce the students attending the Indian Apparel and Textile Practicum at Bannari Amman Institute of Technology. The students are all students of the NZ Fashion Tech Diploma in Fashion Technology – four are from the Auckland campus, and five are from Wellington. The opportunity to apply for a place in the Practicum was open to all Diploma students who took part in the Resene “Colour of Fashion” project to design and make a high fashion statement look from a handwoven silk sari specially selected in India to bring the Resene fashion paint colours to life. After a rigorous selection process, the successful applicants were awarded a Prime Ministers Scholarship for Asia that has made the trip a reality for the lucky recipients. Val and the staff of NZ Fashion Tech wish all the students from both NZ Fashion Tech and BIT an enjoyable, informative and productive learning experience

Val Marshall-Smith Academic Director

From the Auckland Campus: Liam Julian, Fiona Chi, Jordan Noah, Rawi Rangi

From the Wellington Campus: Yvette Geddes, Saraiah Tewaa, Oliver Paroli, Manisha Patel, Johanna Sporry

Please read their profiles

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

3

Liam Julian Born at Waitakere hospital a baby will travel 10 minutes to where he will reside to this day. This place is called Ranui, “The big sun”. My name is Liam Julian, and Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, is my stomping ground. And living here has moulded me into the man I am today. After school I decided to do some work experience with the label Zambesi, a popular fashion brand in New Zealand. From the first day I stepped foot in their work room I knew that fashion is what I wanted to do in life. For the past 2 and half years I have been studying fashion at the New Zealand Institute of Fashion Technology, this has played a big part in finding me, and has given me many good opportunities which have shaped me. My long term plan consists of gaining all the experience I can from work placements and jobs before branching off and revealing myself to the world as a fashion designer. My passion is deeply enrooted in my genes, I am Maori and that in itself motivates me to work as hard as my ancestors did. I have many dreams and aspirations some of which are to own a fashion house, produce quality garments, and excel in marketing my product. In India, I’m hoping to gain experience of how garments are manufactured in a large scale, (something which doesn’t really happen in New Zealand) and how businesses are run differently to New Zealand. And gain an overview of how the public of India dress differently from New Zealand would be useful.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

4

Fiona Chi Hello, my name is Fiona Chi, I’m a 20 year old female. My parents are both from Taiwan and met in NZ while my father was studying mechanical engineering and my mother pursued her love of art through her graphics degree. I followed in my mother’s footstep with an interest in creativity and began studying at NZ Institute of Fashion Technology in July 2014. I am currently in my last year where I will graduate with a Diploma in Fashion Technology. I have worked part-time in a retail store while I have been studying at NZ Fashion Tech which has allowed me to gain a bit of experience in the real world as well as a source of income. My long term plan after I graduate at the end of this year, is to move into a career where I can learn the ‘ins and outs’ of opening up a clothing store, eventually opening up my own business which will be focused on women’s clothing. I would also like to branch out and learn about making of jewellery. This would allow me to accessorise my garments which would complement my clothing and therefore create complete looks and making it easier for a customer to shop. My passion and dream is to become a globally known women’s brand which will make women feel not only comfortable but also confident in what they have put on. I hope to gain more knowledge through my visit to India as well as learning about the traditions. This will give me a great insight into the fashion world as I will not only gain experience but also have connections with the textiles capital.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

5

Jordan Noah Hello, I am Jordan Noah. I’m a 23 year old female that was born and grew up in Auckland New Zealand. I lived in Wellington, New Zealand with young people my age for 3 years, and I studied at NZ Fashion Tech there. Now I am back in Auckland at NZ Fashion Tech, living at home with my parents and younger brother. Before studying fashion design, I attended Saint Kentigern College in Auckland and finished High School there. I am an energetic, bubbly person that loves to be around people and work and learn as a group as well as independently. I am extremely passionate about all things design; I have always been a creative person and have always enjoyed working with fabric and learning how to make things. I’m also very passionate about learning about other cultures and experiencing how other people work and learn. I think India would be an extraordinary place to experience this. My long term plan for the future is to work in the fashion industry after my studies. I am very interested in womenswear. I want to get involved in being a fashion buyer for a company or work as a part of a production team. I am also interested in starting my own business, designing and creating my own designs. I am hoping to gain an amazing experience in India; I want to enrich my knowledge of what I have learnt at New Zealand Fashion Tech, especially in broadening my knowledge of fashion design, fashion construction and textiles manufacturing. I think it will be amazing to learn these things in India because it would be a completely different outlook of things I could learn in New Zealand. I am looking forward to the amazing experience.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

6

Rawi Rangi My name is Rawi Rangi. I’m a 20 year old Samoan Maori female, born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. Being the youngest in my family, I have set myself a goal of being successful, not in terms of being competitive, but to make my parents proud. I have been studying with NZ Fashion Tech for 2½ years, and am in the last year on my journey towards gaining my Diploma in Fashion Technology. My long term plan is to get a job in the fashion industry where I can use my creative abilities. My passions are to give back in as many ways possible through a job where I can help people, which is a philosophy I want to live by. My dream is to create change in the fashion industry, and to show people around the world the talents that young adults from New Zealand can offer. My view on fashion today is that there are a lot of changes happening, and in the future I want to work to create a strong sense of confidence in people to give them the will power to be able to help other people, creating a domino effect for positive change. Another dream I want to set myself is to create art work through fashion garments in a similar way that Alexander McQueen uses art and clothes together – this is a way that I can create art as a projection of the world as I see it in my mind. Eventually I want to become a world renowned artist / brand. I also want to create a better industry where if it was possible to own a company that manufactured offshore, I would set out to create a better, healthier and safer environment for every single worker. What I am hoping to gain from visiting India is a lot of knowledge that I will be able to carry with me to enable me to become a valuable employee. I would like to gain more knowledge on textiles as this is a very important aspect in creating amazing garments. I want knowledge that will make me confident in my choices so that I can only offer valuable feedback. I believe I am a hardworking woman willing to endure any journey in life to be able to gain the best knowledge possible.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

7

Yvette Geddes I’m Yvette Geddes, currently studying for the Diploma in Fashion Technology at NZ Fashion Tech in Wellington. I grew up in Wellington and currently live in Newlands, Wellington with my two sons, aged 17 and 18. I have raised them on my own, which has been a journey, and they are both now at an age of semiindependence – their Grandad will be their caregiver whilst I am in India. Being older I have had a different ‘career’ path already, in that I have had mostly administrative, cashier type jobs, and experience as a co-owner of a small video store business. That got me interested in accounting, and I went on to study the NZ Diploma in Business part-time while working part-time, and raising my children. Even though I enjoy working on the computer, I have always loved to sew, since my grandmother introduced me at 13 years old. I feel I am very fortunate that I am currently retraining myself into this industry which holds great interest for me. What I hope to get out of the India trip is an opportunity I would otherwise never have. It is daunting to think of travelling half way around the planet to such a different country – six weeks is also a long time to be away from loved ones but I’m looking forward to the experience. I relish the chance to visit India in a safe learning university environment and the opportunity to learn more about the textile industry in India, and I am especially interested in the production and use of silk. In return I will be respectful of the customs and culture of India and behave appropriately in the way expected of a visitor. I understand there are some big differences, but I am prepared to put myself out of my comfort zone in order to gain this amazing experience.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

8

Saraiah Tewaa My name is Saraiah Tewaa – I am 23 years old, and I have two children, 6 year old Blessing and 4 year old Prayer. Being a fashion designer has always been a dream of mine. Since a young age, I’ve always dressed up, or dressed my sister and brothers in sheets and my mums clothing, and had them parade down a pretend cat walk! The idea of me joining NZ Fashion Tech came about when my sister and I were in the car talking about fashion and where we want to be in the future. This took us on a little journey and gave me the idea of starting at NZ Fashion Tech because the Kleenex Cottonelle (toilet paper fashion project) dresses came up in our conversation. My sister went on to study business management and administration and is currently studying her diploma just like I am. Our goal is to open up a store together, and I plan on making steps towards that goal when I graduate at the end of this year. I have a burning passion for fashion and I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to study at NZ Fashion Tech, and travel to India to broaden my knowledge of textiles.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

9

Oliver Paroli My name is Olli Paroli and I am 18 years old, living in the Capital of New Zealand, Wellington City! I grew up here with my family – parents, 3 brothers and a sister. Growing up surrounded by so many male figures, it proved interesting that I wanted to pursue fashion and art as a career, but I have big dreams! That’s why at age 17 I started at NZ Fashion Tech. I'm a very detail oriented person and felt that the core skills taught in the first two levels of the programme would benefit me in the future. Now I am studying towards the Diploma in Fashion Technology, which has ended up being a very busy and very exciting year so far, with so many great opportunities and projects to focus on. As of now, I am exploring what I wish to do in the future, with many sectors of the fashion industry holding so many exciting jobs, I can't really decide. I am passionate about knowledge itself and am constantly seeking to learn new things. Other things that I value include sustainability and what it means to live with the smallest amount of impact on the earth, art in all its many guises, helping people feel good about themselves and making people feel happy! I believe I can really bring all these things together with fashion which is why I enjoy it so much. I am absolutely elated to have the opportunity to travel to India and study at the Bannari Amman Institute of Technology. It will not only give me a close look into textile production and manufacture, but also an intimate gaze, and broader understanding of the rich culture in India. Having only ever travelled to Australia, this will be the furthest I have been from home, and that in itself will be a great learning experience. I honestly cannot wait to see you in June!

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

10

Manisha Patel My name is Manisha Patel and I was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. My parents are from India so I have been bought up learning and being part of the Indian culture and its traditions. I have been at NZ Fashion Tech for one and a half years having achieved two certificates, Certificate in Fashion Technology and Certificate in Pattern Design, learning so many new techniques and how the fashion industry works. I am currently in my third year doing my Diploma which I hope to achieve at the end of this year. My long term plans are designing dresses or going into costuming for plays and movies. I love experimenting with ideas and seeing what something could look like with a piece of fabric around the body. My dream is to become a fashion designer, designing dresses for any occasion and travelling, seeing all sorts of fashion around the world. I’m very passionate about my culture and its traditions including its day to day wear and its special occasion wear. Something that I would like to do is be able to mix where I grew up and my culture together and see what I can create using the silhouette, patterns, fabrics and techniques to create unique garments. Fashion has always been a passion of mine, seeing garments and the curiosity of how they are made catches my attention, so I like looking at the details and then using what I see and my interest to make something new and different. I have been to India but have never had an opportunity to see the fashion industry. Going on this trip, I hope to get a better understanding of textiles and how fabrics are made into garments and what makes India so fast fashion. I want to learn new techniques and get a better understanding of what goes into making a garment. I also hope to meet lots of new people and make lots of connections. This trip would also allow me to travel to part of India I have never been to.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

11

Johanna Sporry My name is Johanna Lee Sporry, I am a 25-yearold from Masterton, New Zealand. I have been studying at the NZ Fashion Tech Wellington campus since July 2014, completing the Certificate in Fashion Technology, Certificate in Pattern Design and am currently completing my final year which is the Diploma in Fashion Technology. I have been interested in fashion and sewing since I was a small child, and studied soft materials and textiles throughout my school years. Whilst sewing and crafts have always been a hobby, I never really thought I was good enough to make a career out it until 2014 when I mustered up the courage and the selfconfidence to enrol at NZ Fashion Tech. I thank all my friends, family and colleagues for believing in my abilities when I didn’t do so myself. NZ Fashion Tech has taught me a lot more than just how to sew and pattern make; I have become a much more confident person, confident in myself and my abilities as a machinist, pattern maker and sewer, in expressing my ideas and opinions, and being able to speak confidently to a room full of people. My long term goal is to have my own label and run my own business, and I plan to put in the hard yards to achieve this goal. My short term goals are to finish my Diploma, then gain experience working for other successful businesses and designers so that when the time comes, I can be successful too. I am passionate about reusability, eco fashion and sustainability; I like to know how things are made, their purpose and impact on the environment and what could be done differently. Being from a large family, high quality garments and designer clothing were just a dream of things you want but can’t have – on the list of what I would buy if I ever won lotto. This has inspired me to want to be able to create affordable high quality garments for the middle and lower classes that do not contribute to child labour. I am not sure whether this is possible but one day I hope to achieve it. In India, I am hoping to gain a broader knowledge of fibres and fabrics, overseas production, what affects culture has on fashion, and I would like to learn more about India and its beautiful culture.

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16

12

H:\DIPLOMA\India\2016\PMSA Student Profile Booklet 2016.docx©NZIFT 06/16