New $2,500 national fashion award at Henty Field Days 2007

NATURAL FIBRE will be in sharp and fashionable focus this Spring on the catwalk in Henty Machinery Field Days’ big Country Lifestyle marquee.

The Henty Machinery Field Days Co-Operative Ltd’s board of directors today announced its inaugural Natural Fibre Fashion Award to be held during Henty 2006.

The award carries a $2500 first prize and is expected to attract entries from professional, amateur and student designers from around Australia.

The fashion stakes are being staged at the Henty Machinery Field Days by the Co-Operative through its Country Lifestyle section, under direction of coordinator, Lynn Jacobsen.

Henty Machinery Field Days chairman Colin Wood says the award is open to designs made only from natural fibres such as wool, mohair, cashmere and cotton “or a combination thereof”.

“What we’re aiming to do here is to use this prize to support our natural fibre producers and to grow the award into a major national country event in the fullness of time,“ Colin Wood says.

A pre-eminent steering group has enthusiastically volunteered its time and expertise to help launch the inaugural natural fibre fashion award.

The group includes:

• Woollen clothing manufacturer Dinah Toohey of Wagga
• Renowned designer “Sam” Stolhand of Young.
• CWA State President – Judy Richardson.
• TAFE NSW Riverina Institure Head of Studies BAIT Joy Stocker
• HMFD executive director Doug Meyer
• HMFD Country Lifestyle section coordinator Lynn Jacobsen
• Regional CWA representatives
• Regional fleece and fibre producers

The $2500 first prize for the award will be determined by a panel of industry judges.

Award judges will represent a range of fashion skills including design, processing and manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing blended with some “general country creditability.”

Lynn Jacobsen says the purpose of the new award is allow designers to bring to the notice of the public their skills in fashion design using natural fibre.

“As part of a major wool and fibre producing region, Henty feels a responsibility to do its bit in promoting natural products in a highly competitive fashion marketplace,” she says.

Judges will be looking for garments and creations that are wearable in every sense of the word and those that are viable at the retail level.

Entry forms are available by phoning the field days management office on 02 6929 3305 between 10am and 4:00pm, or by faxing 02 6929 3180.

Further information is available from Lynn Jacobsen by phone 02 6043 3301 or by email at quandongpark1@bigpond.com

Completed entry forms, addressed to Natural Fibre Fashion Award, P.O. Box 79A; Henty NSW 2658 must be received by Friday, 1 September 2007.