Pacific style at Cult-Couture

An ethereal scene of a darkened forest swathed in an eerie glow greeted those being seated for the 2008 Villa Maria Cult Couture award show. Speculative chatter from excited guests suggested this might be a setting to play out an excerpt from the life of the Maori folklore character, Maui. In an unexpected twist, as the lighting in the audotorium dimmed, the stage literally came to life as we saw actors encoiled around tree trunks and fauna using their bodies to shift props aside.

Then in a performance resembling that of the Diva Plavalaguna from the movie the Fifth Element; Mere Boynton emerged wowing the audience with a haunting song sung in a vocal style combining classical opera with the lyrics in maori and maori karanga. Like her Diva counterpart Boynton was elaborately dressed, donning Shona Tawhiaos' woven flax ensemble Tino Glam which won the Villa Maria Estate Premier Design Award in 2007.

As a first time spectator and entrant, this was an awesome introduction to the evenings entertainment and best summed up by Karen Swanson, a member of the audience, as "beautiful...mind blowing". From start to finish the show possessed all the elements to impress; a lively and engaging mc, culturally diverse performances, great models and of course a great lineup of designs.

The Flight of Fantasy section kicked off the show and did not disappoint. Iron Maiden masterminded by Maxine Wooldridge & Kirsten Leitch could have stepped out of the imagination of Jean Paul-Gaultier and straight into the costume wardrobe of Fifth Element. Strapped with zips and a commanding presence the gladiator like armour of Iron Maiden held commercial appeal also. With a few design tweaks it could easily transform into a cropped jacket to be worn by the Lady Gagas' of society; that is, the gutsy, self assured women who dare.

Melody Wehipeihana, November 2008
Photos Kevin Robinson