Waning interest from Taranaki’s youngest fashion designers may see major changes made to the region’s wearable arts competition.
Organiser Lois Finderup said both the child and student sections in some of the seven categories of the Taranaki Fashion Art Awards had come up short of entries.
„In recycled we only have six children, normally we would have around 19,“ she said.
„And in the same category there’s only one student.“
The event committee have decided to extend the registration period until September 13 with the hope of pulling in more entrants or it may have to combine the student and children sections.
„You can’t hold a competition with only one entrant in the category.“
Finderup said they needed at least three for it be a fair competition.
It’s not the first time the show had experienced hardship.
Last year, funding cuts pushed the event to a different venue and organisers cut the ticket prices to encourage people to come along.
This year, she believed the many arts events offered up recently within the community had delayed youth from entering.
„I think there’s been a lot on with the Taranaki Arts Festival and Mary Poppins.
„The schools may have been tied up with a lot of other things because usually it’s a school exercise.“
The show, which this year is titled Mannequin Mystique and runs on October 6 with the awards the following evening, is during the school holidays which could also be a deterrent for people heading out of town, she said.
Finderup wanted to challenge the schools to get involved by creating a garment.
There were sufficient models to show off the wares so it was only the entrants and costumes the show was in need of, she said.
Being on stage with all of the „razzmatazz“ was always an enjoyable experience for children who had taken part in the past, Finderup said.
„If they do something at school their budget is nothing like ours.
„We’re talking around $80,000 to put the jolly thing on.“
In its 16th year, Finderup has been involved since the funky fashion show’s inception.
The New Plymouth woman said despite the ups and downs of organising the event she remained dedicated to upholding the local design talent.
„There’s quite a few hours that they put into things.“Read more at:plus size formal dresses | formal dresses adelaide