Kāpiti College has a fast growing reputation for producing young leaders in fashion design. In 2022 Henry Calkin from Raumati scooped the Resene Colour of Fashion award and now another former Kāpiti College student, Freja Donald is also a finalist.
It is the biggest day of the students’ academic year. Judging Day for Resene Colour of Fashion brings the energy, challenge and reward of the industry these students will graduate into at the end of the year.
Twenty-two Whitecliffe students studying for the Diploma in Fashion from three campuses presented their designs to the judges this month. Each garment was meticulously-crafted by the students from silk twill dyed in new Resene fashion colours.
Thirteen finalists were selected by the judges – seven from Wellington campus and six from two Auckland campuses. One of the finalists, now based in Wellington, Freja Donald is a former student of Kāpiti College.
Freja Donald (18) was inspired by the “energy of a forest alive with movement on a stormy night” in her design.
The butterflies on the white walls of the studio, where judging took place, illustrated this year’s design theme – Colours of Change – and reflected the legacy Resene and Whitecliffe have built in twelve years, giving hundreds of graduating students a head-start in the industry.
Since its inception in 2014, Resene Colour of Fashion with Whitecliffe has supported students in their final year of a two-year Diploma in Fashion.
The students were asked to reflect on the world around them, the changing colours of their lives, their experiences, choices, challenges and the people who helped guide them towards fulfilment. The design brief read: ‘This theme highlights the changing colours and the ebb and flow of life, focusing on the power of learning, resilience, and transformation, much like nature’s rich and ever-changing tapestry.’
Nerves, lights, cameras, professional models and a judging panel were all part of the experience. The students will all show their designs at the Whitecliffe Graduate Showcase in Auckland and Wellington in November and will feature in a Resene online gallery. The winner of this year’s Resene Colour of Fashion project will receive a cash prize of $1000 gifted by Resene.
Karen Warman of Resene says: “We are thrilled to have shared this project with our valued partner Whitecliffe for more than a decade. Together we’re bringing visibility to a generation of creative young talent.
“We love seeing the students immerse themselves in the story of their Resene fashion colour, reminding us all of the energy and meaning colour brings. We are proud to support this new group of fashion grads as they embark on their careers,” she says.
Whitecliffe’s Doula Matheos says that for the fashion pre-degree programmes at Whitecliffe, this project gives a taste of the experience students can expect in their fashion careers.
“Graduates of these programmes go on to excel in many roles, as diverse as merchandisers, buyers, costume designers, garment technicians, workroom assistants, patternmakers, machinists and fashion designers.
“Whitecliffe alumni are contributing to brands like Weta Workshop, Entire Studios and Stolen Girlfriends Club among others. Our curriculum, supported by Resene Colour of Fashion, prepares students for success in the contemporary fashion industry – in New Zealand and overseas,” she says.
The 2025 finalists for Resene Colour of Fashion are:
Auckland Campus: Joshua (Josh) Hay, Arionne (Ari) Tresadern
Manukau Campus: Ayesha Abundo, Keisha Kheav, Rafika Mohammed, Salote Sanalio
Wellington Campus: Keala Rosthorn, Mathew Power (Mat), Maia Paurini, Ayla Jenkins, Freja Donald, Gwyneth (Gwyn) Daisa, Helena Reid.