New Zealand Fashion Week at Auckland Libraries

This year, New Zealand Fashion Week showcased sustainability, diversity and creativity with a variety of activities designed to please the most style-savvy Aucklanders.

In a new partnership with Auckland Council, sustainable fashion stepped off the catwalk and into Central City Library | Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero with free workshops, exhibitions and events running from Monday 26 August to Sunday 1 September.
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Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero’s Manager Rachael Rivera says, 
​The library programme sat alongside the official New Zealand Fashion Week schedule and supported a shared goal of enlivening Auckland’s city centre, making New Zealand Fashion Week more accessible and promoting sustainability. This significant programme offered social and cultural benefits both within and outside the fashion industry and we were delighted to offer these events to our Library patrons free of charge.
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Thurs 29 Aug, Zambesi 1979 Trade Show. Photographer: Getty Images
In a collision of fashion and technology, Aucklanders were able to sign up for one-on-one 3D-printing workshops where they could print a bespoke piece of fashion jewellery specially designed by Te Ari Prendergast of label ARITAUA. Prendergast’s 3D-printed jewellery also featured on the runway, making its debut in ARITAUA’s 2019 show​

In addition to the extensive public programme, on Thursday 29 August, Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero was transformed into an other-worldly fashion wonderland as it hosted the final trade show of 2019 by internationally renowned designer, Zambesi. Models glided up and down the escalators and between the shelves, clutching books, and browsing as they walked. 

​Thanks to an enormous team effort, over 900 guests were treated to an unbeatable experience from the moment they entered our doors. An attendee highlight was the special edition Zambesi library card which was created to celebrate Zambesi’s 40-year milestone and this new partnership with Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero.
Team Leader of Unique Experiences, Rhion Munro says: ​
The Zambesi show is a great example of a destination event which sits outside the box of traditional library activity. Through our partnership with New Zealand Fashion Week, we were able to align ourselves with a trusted contemporary brand and reach a new audience.
The week-long programme, with Library collections at its heart, was a huge success. 16 fashion and sustainability experts partnered with us to design the programme, and over 1500 Aucklanders participated in New Zealand Fashion Week activity at Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero. This success is thanks to an enormous staff effort across Auckland Council and we are so grateful for the mahi that went into this by all involved.
​Other activations that featured at the library were:
  • A Sustainable Designer Exhibition to complement the Sustainability Show at NZ Fashion Weekend.
  • Daily Make, Do, Mend sewing workshops with tips on how to repair your own clothing with Gracie Matthews.
  • Sustainable Fashion Speed Dating where budding fashionistas could connect one-on-one with sustainable fashion industry experts.
  • A Very Fashionable Talk by Marguerite Hill and Wayne Siu – of our Auckland Council whānau.
  • Swap it Like It’s Hot 3.0 Recycled Clothing Swap in partnership with the University of Auckland Art History Society and Mercy Hospice.
  • A kids textile upcycling workshop with The ReCreators – an Auckland-based social enterprise of upcycling artisans that promote creativity, mindful making and sustainability.
  • A block-printing workshop with the Migrant Zine Collective – an Auckland-based collective aiming to amplify, celebrate and share the voices of migrants-of-colour in Aotearoa.

Marela Glavaš; is the Events Librarian at Auckland Libraries in charge of managing the Central Library partnership with New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW). The programme included the largest event undertaken at Central Library and has led to a number of ‘firsts’ like the designing of a limited edition NZFW library card in collaboration with the Zambesi brand and the creation of an event-specific pop-up website. This was a brand-new partnership with an ambitious goal to bring NZFW to an entirely new audience. 
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