Our students presented their brilliant Wearable Arts Outfits at Toi on Monday night in the regional round of the Wearable Arts Competition, hosted by Show Quest.

33 students, working in eleven teams of between two to four students, have spent the last 8 weeks designing and creating a sensational array of costumes. There were three categories they could enter under: Aotearoa, Excessive Accessories, and Open. The first two weeks were spent designing, each idea bigger and better than the last, then the chaos began.  Deciding where to start, what materials and techniques to use and how to even begin were the first challenges these determined students faced. Having to think outside the square and learn how to use the different array of materials, previously unknown, was just the tip of the iceberg. Failure was their biggest learning tool, and when something didn't work it was time to try something else. 

Year 8 students took on the roles of Tuakana Teina, helping the Year 7's with ideas and tips. Most of the Year 8's had done it before, and knew that time was always short. 

With the earlier deadline this year of May instead of September, students spent many days after school, in the weekends, and in the last school holidays coming into school to work on their creations. It is only through their hard work, determination, and great work habits, that they were able to produce such stunning outfits in the short time frame. They had to learn how to work together, how to negotiate, how to get over upsets, how to  manage themselves and their time wisely, and  how to stick at the boring jobs even when they were really tired of doing them.

Over the last eight weeks there has been much laughter and a great great deal of mess. We have seen creativity at it's best. These amazing young people enabled 11 models on Monday night to walk onto the stage at the James Hay Theatre to a full house, proud of what they had created to wow the audience with their  WOW creations. The teams backstage confidently and eagerly spoke to the judge about their designs, impressing her so much she would like to come and visit! They took out a huge pile of certificates on the night and the top award of the night. The professional photos taken by the photographer now go onto the national judging. Below are the working photos and a few backstage photos taken on Monday.... the proper ones are coming! 

Congratulations to all our Breen's Wearable Arts students. We are very proud of you and what you have accomplished.