My Account
After stitching up the Orewa College Wearable Arts Awards for the past three years, Year 13 student Maxwell Hutton has turned his talent to Catwalk Arts, which will be held in Orewa next month.
The awards are a combined hospice fundraiser for Warkworth/Wellsford and Hibiscus Coast.
Maxwell, who has won the college’s wearable arts competition for three years running, is preparing three entries for Catwalk Arts – Cosmic Binding, Sack of Flower and a third item made entirely of VCR tape.
Material for the garments comes from various sources including the school’s scrap box and the Red Cross Opportunity Shop. A feature of his work is the inclusion of electronics.
“It just makes it all a little more eye-catching,” he says.
It’s been a busy year for Maxwell. A ball dress he made for his sister Geena was selected for the Walk the Line event, held in conjunction with NZ Fashion Week, over the weekend. He was one of 60 young designers chosen to enter a garment after submitting a sketch. After Catwalks Arts, he will prepare for the college wearable arts show.
“Sometimes it feels like the fabric room at school is my second home!”
Maxwell says he has been lucky to have Maya Foster for a fabric teacher for the past four years.
“She has provided support and inspiration, as well as teaching me the techniques and sewing skills I’ve needed to make these pieces.”
As well as fashion design, Maxwell is interested in theatre and is currently starring as the Scarecrow in the Centrestage production of The Wizard of Oz.
He intends to take a gap year next year before deciding on a career.
Catwalk Arts wearable art awards will be held at the Orewa Arts and Events Centre, on October 6. There will be two shows, a matinee at 2pm and an evening performance at 7pm.
