I caught up with Amalia about her success at the Tīaho Fashion Awards where she won the Supreme Award.

I was so taken by Amalia’s motivation to learn and her creativity through the design process that I just had to share it through the newsletter! I say all the time how these interviews are the best part of my job, and this one was an absolute cracker!

Amalia is in Year 9 and chose the Tīaho option in Kete Wana, which led her to design and make a fashion garment that represents her culture and identity. She then modelled her garment at the annual Tīaho fashion awards. 

I asked her how she found this process. Amalia found the hardest part of producing a garment such as this that reflected her identity as being the planning part. She got her inspiration from a surf shop visit in Ferrymead where she found a dress that she really loved. She wanted something that she could actually wear and that represented her Dutch heritage but also gave a nod to her growing up and living in Aotearoa. The Dutch heritage is represented through the orange tulips which involved Amalia using her embroidery skills. The band around the dress was made of harakeke that was harvested and weaved at the family bach in the Marlborough Sounds, which is a special place for Amalia. She also collected shells from the area to be part of the overall outfit too. Everything has symbolism and represents Amalia and her whānau. That is what makes the garment so unique and special.

One of the skills Amalia learnt through this process was overlocking and she has since used her newly acquired skills. Amalia had done some textiles before but not to the extent of this garment and not so independently as to achieve a finished product. Amalia was surprised when she won the Junior Award and she was out the back talking with her friends when she was told she had to go back out to the stage area. She didn't even know there was another award and was very surprised and delighted to have won it. Amalia highly recommends this Kete Wana option as she says there is a lot of support for students. She utilised Vicki Dixon’s skills and expertise in fashion and then Colin Powick assisted Amalia with the laser cutting of her buttons as she couldn't find the perfect ones for the outfit. Amalia also really enjoyed working with older fashion students in their role as tuakana and she also enjoyed working alongside other junior students as they all went about creating their individual projects. I can’t help but be pleased that collaborative projects like this are supported by our new Art and Tech building which is named Wainuku. We are so lucky to have a collaborative maker space.

I never let a student leave my office without asking things about themselves and what advice they have for others that might be starting at our kura. Amalia came to us from Heathcote Primary and was most looking forward to being taught specific subject by experts in their area. She was also really looking forward to Kete Wana, which is our version of what other schools call option subjects! She is currently doing Te Ara Matatau (extension te reo Māori) and Whakairo (weaving) and enjoying both of those.

Amalia’s advice for new Year 9’s is to take opportunities! Even if you are not 100% sure about it, give it a go. Amalia reflected that she wasn’t sure about Tīaho but took a risk. She also suggests that having a range of different friendships can be helpful for balance.

The transition to high school hasn’t been perfect for Amalia and it won't be for many! She was well-prepared and lots of things have gone well and at the same time she is managing the stuff that hasn’t. I was so impressed with her attitude to learning, her curiosity, and her willingness to share her story and about herself to me, and now you! Thanks, Amalia, I am so proud of your achievements and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you.