City of fashion
by Metropol | October 28, 2026 8:35 am
Editor Nina Tucker’s favourite moments, looks and memories from Christchurch’s second Spring Fashion Festival held this October at Te Pae.
Singer-songwriter Geneva AM (Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa) left me with chills when she opened and closed both The New Guard and The Spring Edit shows with Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi. The waiata is about kotahitanga (unity, solidarity and collective action), and perfectly recognised this collective coming together to celebrate creativity for a monumental three-day fashion festival. Photographed by Harriet Carter.
Local models walking the runway – need I say more about how much beauty lives local? Here, Tessa Taylor wears Rhoda Nunn. Photographed by Harriet Carter.
The New Guard showed Aotearoa designers shaping the next generation of fashion, from Daīna Hugh to Rhoda Nunn and Ōhinehou Lyttelton’s own Awatea. I fell in love with this piece instantly (Daīna Hugh’s Lui jacket) and saw it on industry icon Tatum Savage front row at The Spring Edit, falling in love all over again. Photographed by Harriet Carter.
All the fun backstage. Seeing Christchurch’s fashion, beauty and modelling industries intersect on a scale like this is something special. Photographed by Meg Stuthridge.
Breast Cancer Cure’s Fashion for a Cure charity fashion show raised $136,000 this year. Local designer Caitin Crisp was a treasured celebrity on the evening, auctioning off the chance to name and own a design from the next winter collection, which went for $3600. Here, local model Milla Newbury and the iconic Amanda Bransgrove wear Caitlin Crisp. Photographed by Harriet Carter.
For In Motion, the runway showcase celebrating 100 years of unity in sport between India and New Zealand, Dan Ahwa styled 40 looks using sporting brands, archival pieces and vintage treasures from private collections. Metropol October cover star and BLACKCAP Ish Sodhi took to the runway. Photographed by Harriet Carter.
Metropol’s sold-out panel talk Fashion Forward: The Next Generation in Conversation set in the beautiful Bar Franco in The Crossing. Photographed by Angelica Dumaguin, Sonder Media.
Sweet styling for Twenty Seven Names’ Look No Further collection on The Spring Edit runway. Photographed by Meg Stuthridge.
You can’t beat the energy when Kathryn Wilson Footwear finds its way onto the runway, proven by local model Emily Underwood. Photographed by Harriet Carter.
Hair director Tuscany Hamel led a team of 12 hairstylists creating one to two key looks per show, with three shows and more than 90 models overall. I noticed such a powerful synergy between what Tuscany created for the Christchurch runway to what was seen at Paris Fashion Week this September.
Seeing the city get dressed up. The guest list sparkled (sequins or not). Photographed by Anya Konstantine.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/city-of-fashion/