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Project Runway New Zealand Contestants-feature2_1000x1250

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

16 September 2018

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With only weeks until Project Runway New Zealand officially goes to air, we bring you your first glance at the designers.

Each bringing a unique aesthetic to the competition, these talented Kiwis from an eclectic range of backgrounds will be tasked with a design brief from the judges each Monday evening with sights on impressing. If their garment fails to meet the brief, they risk being eliminated from the competition. Who will win and who will walk?

Read next: How FQ editor Sally-Ann became a judge on Project Runway

Meet the designers below: 

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

1/14

Jess Hunter, 23 Retail Assistant from Auckland

With three older sisters, Jess already has that competitive instinct, having spent most of her life going against her sister. Being loud and outspoken, Jess isn’t afraid of conflict or speaking her mind -especially in the workroom or in team challenges!

“I find it easy to adapt to different and unusual specifications, as I have done a lot of custom dressmaking for people. This has also proven that I work well under pressure. My main weakness would have to be my time management. I always think I can cram more work in than I actually can!”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

2/14

Benjamin Alexander, 22 Designer from Auckland

With a background in womenswear, the most important thing to Benjamin is making women look and feel good. Living and breathing fashion, he believes that being a designer or any other creative isn’t a want, it is a must. Fashion is why he is here on this planet.

“I think my work speaks for itself – it is exaggerated minimalism. I like really clean lines and clean silhouettes with tailored clothing.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

3/14

Judy Gao, 24 Fashion Designer

Since the age of 13, Judy has always dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. When looking for a dress to wear to her high school ball, Judy created her own dress, and with that found a new skill and a sense of confidence in design.

“My design aesthetic is a mix of sophisticated, elegant, sexy, and edgy. However, my personal style is very simple and casual.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

4/14

Beau Takapu, 37 Retail Senior Sales Assistant from Auckland

Growing up in San Francisco, Beau felt like something was missing in his design aesthetic. He decided to make a change and move to New Zealand to get closer to his Tongan roots.

“My design aesthetic is classic, modern and clean, but never shy of embellishments or unique eye-catching detail.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

5/14

Matt Costello, 26 Nursery Worker from Nelson

Considering himself the underdog in the competition, Matt is hoping his confidence and positive attitude will hide his lack of practical study and knowledge that others may have. With a background in streetwear for men, creating womenswear is something he’s had to learn quickly before heading into the competition.

“I really don’t care much about trying to look a certain way or fit a certain trend. I just go with feeling at the time. I tend to make art and fashion, but I don’t try to dress like a stereotypical designer. I used to do photoshoots with my collections in stubbies and gumboots to be honest and let’s not forget the crocs…”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

6/14

Misty Ratima, 40 Māori Lecturer from Napier

Taking influence from her Māori culture, Misty feels the story behind the design is key to relating to your audience. She sees fashion as an outlet of expression and identity.

“I like the idea of unisex streetwear, where women can look sexy in men’s garments that are an oversized look for her. I like to mix print, pattern and texture all the time. Imagery or portraiture has played a part in collections since I started.

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

7/14

Camille Richard, 22 Handbag Designer from Auckland

Currently travelling through Europe, Camille is using this opportunity to gather inspiration and new perspectives for her handbag line.

“I design for women who aren’t afraid to make a statement and have fun with what they wear. I like to design and create adventurous, sculptural pieces and embrace bold shapes, patterns and colour.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

8/14

Beth Hornsby-Hunt, 31, Fashion Student from Auckland

Not one to stick to the norm, Beth considers herself “refreshingly honest”. Seeing fashion as a freedom of expression, some of Beth’s previous designs include; skulls, zombies, blood splatter and even a taxidermied duckling or two.

“When it comes to design, drawing is my weakness. Trying to sketch something to convey my ideas is difficult for me, because I couldn’t sketch my way out of a paper bag. My strengths would have to be my technical ability and problem-solving.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

9/14

Caitlin Crisp, 22, Retail Assistant from Christchurch

With friends describing her as loving, positive, energetic and a bit bonkers, Caitlin’s bright and happy personality is sure to lighten the mood in the workroom. Her point of difference as a designer is that she tends to make pieces difficult to mass replicate, which is why she hasn’t started her own label yet.

“My style is very commercial. My strengths are dresses and blouses. I think the unconventional challenges may show some weaknesses but I’m sure we’ll mostly be in the same boat with using materials we’re not familiar with!”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

10/14

Kerry Ranginui, 33, Pattern Maker from Whanganui

Kerry left Whanganui 10 years ago (with no money and a car filled with clothes) to head to Auckland and fulfil his dream of working in fashion. His move came at the peak of the 2008 recession, but instead of giving up and moving home, he painted fences and cleaned swimming pools. Kerry also spent six years on a dairy farm just outside the city, before landing the perfect role: working with Karen Walker as a pattern maker.

“I’m from a menswear background, so I think that designing womenswear from a masculine perspective is fun. Womenswear is also very strong and powerful when taken from a male silhouette.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

11/14

Lenon Wakuwa, 27, Caregiver from Invercargill

Imagination—thinking about what to create then designing it—is Lenon’s strongest trait as a fashion designer. When being set a challenge, Lenon likes to take time to create something that is going to wow audiences. With Project Runway, there is always a time crunch—so creating something within a set time is going to be this designer’s biggest hurdle to overcome.

“My personal style is androgynous and gender fluid with a touch wearable avant-garde. All my creations borrow feminine, whether that be the way I incorporate lines, shape and form, or colour and texture. I am also hugely inspired by the Victorian Era and my African heritage, and find these influences appearing in my work from time-to-time.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

12/14

Massey Williams, 38, Alternative Education Tutor and Mentor from Christchurch

Growing up playing rugby and partying, Massey never expected to swap the sports field for a sewing machine. He ventured into the world of fashion after stumbling across a Picasso exhibition and being absolutely captivated.

“I had family members and friends who absolutely ridiculed me for applying for Project Runway. I had hardly any support, so it just shows that drive and determination really do take you places.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

13/14

Nicole Schmidt, 28, Stay at home Mother from Hawke’s Bay

Nicole’s area of expertise is in lingerie and tailored jackets. She has a strong attention to detail, especially when working with lace and hard materials like metal and chains. Despite having a strong personality, Nicole isn’t sure how she will take criticism, especially if it’s particularly harsh. Here’s hoping her psychic ability will help her guess what the judges want to see on the runway each week, so she won’t need to face any!

“My personal style is dark whimsical with a punk rock twist. I like to mix fun playful styles with dark and sexy. Using lace and metal detailing such as charms, studs and spikes.”

Meet your Project Runway New Zealand designers

14/14

Peni Moala, 29, Retail Assistant from Arrowtown

With a background in womenswear, particularly in eveningwear and streetwear, Peni (pronounced ‘Ben-i’) is hoping to wow the judges with his usage of alternative fabrics.

“I love to be able to tell a story through my design, and quite often I will call upon my Pacific culture. I like to take the traditional and fuse it with a modern twist.”

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