UCOL Te Pūkenga students are breathing new life into old wedding dresses to raise money for Hospice Whanganui.
The project, ReFashioned Bridal, is a collaboration between UCOL Te Pūkenga and Hospice Whanganui, with UCOL Te Pūkenga students and established designers refashioning ten donated wedding gowns. The new and improved gowns will then be auctioned off with all proceeds going to Hospice Whanganui.
All of the materials being used by UCOL Te Pūkenga students are recycled, with
Jane Yeh Designs donating the fabric.
ReFashioned Bridal came about after Hospice Whanganui Operations Manager Sandy McDougall contacted Stephanie looking to get
UCOL Te Pūkenga Creative degree students involved in a fundraising project.
For the students involved, the project is part of this year’s curriculum. UCOL Te Pūkenga Graphic Design and Visual Arts students are also supporting the event through handling tasks such as designing flyers, posters and a logo for the event, in addition to running social media channels, and documenting the dressmaking through photos and video.
Stephanie says refashioning an old garment presents different challenges to the designers and students.
“We’re having to think about limited fabric. The dress I am using is difficult because there are a lot of blemishes on the fabric, so I have to think about how to design around that. Then we have to deal with issues around sizing. It’s presented new challenges for the students and pushed them to problem-solve – it has been a very valuable learning experience or them, one that has direct benefits for our community.”
UCOL Te Pūkenga Bachelor of Design and Arts student Alexandria Morder says she’s enjoying the project, which is her first time working on a wedding dress.
“It’s challenging, but at the same time it’s easy to get inspiration because you already have the material and the base shape to work with.”
“I have an 80s dress, which has a glamourous, princess look. I wanted to build on that, so I’m going for a fantasy look which I think I’ve been able to bring out pretty well.”
Fellow student Charleigh Te Peeti, says the challenge of refashioning an old dress has allowed her try new things she didn’t know she could do.
“It has been really fun. Being limited to the material I have, is a challenge, and it’s made me try to find new meaning in different parts of the dress. You’ve got to go with the flow when you can’t go out and buy new material.”
Charleigh says she is going for a modern look with her dress, not for the typical bride.
There will be a ReFashioned Bridal information stand at the Manawatu Wedding Expo on 24th June at Awapuni Racecourse, Palmeston North.
The dresses will then be shown off at a cocktail event at UCOL Te Pūkenga Whanganui on 28th June, and on display at the Whanganui UCOL Te Pūkenga Edith Gallery from 2nd July to 6th July. The auction will be held at Jane Winstone Chapel on 7th July.
You can follow ReFashioned Bridal on social media:
Dress auction
The dresses will then be shown off at a cocktail event at UCOL Te Pūkenga Whanganui on 28th June, and on display at the Whanganui UCOL Te Pūkenga Edith Gallery from 2nd July to 13th July. The dresses will then be auctioned off on TradeMe.