Hat & Hair Awards 2011
The New Zealand Hat and Hair Awards were held on Saturday night
and Aoraki Polytechnic made a clean sweep of the prizes with their
impressive designs! Six awards were won by Aoraki Polytechnic
students.
Aoraki offered two scholarships to art, fashion, hairdressing,
makeup artistry or beauty students. In an internal competition
students had to submit their concepts to heads of schools who
selected two of the best students designs. Winners had their entry
fee and cost of materials paid for. Second year hairdressing
student, Jenny Manton and Diploma in Arts and Media student Cynthia
McCaughan were selected.
Jenny entered the hair Art section in the Wellywood category
with a design based on the character of Mr Tumnus from the Lion,
Witch and the Wardrobe. "I decided to go in the show about six
weeks ago and have been working on it constantly since then, it has
taken a significant amount of time, pinning, braiding and paper
Mache!" Jenny's design even included a lamp that worked! Her
efforts paid off as she went home as the winner of the Wellywood
hat section which includes prize money of $750. Jenny's win was a
team effort as her husband Andre was her model, "There has been a
lot of firsts today for him today, I had to get him a spray tan and
put a fair bit of makeup on him."
Cynthia McCaughan entered three designs in each of the Iconic
Stars, Wellywood and Child's Play hat art sections. Her Just
Jaffa's design was the winner of the child's Play hat section and
she received a placing for her dragon design named 'Smaug the
Magnificent'. Cynthia's other impressive entry was the 'The Curtain
Dress' a lamp like bodice for the Iconic star section. "I loved
having the chance to be overly creative and have less restrictions
that I would give myself when I do my fine arts work. I did note
the lack of male designers in the show though and would urge more
men to have a go." Cynthia also received the first time entrance
award.
Other Aoraki students who entered were Certificate in Painting
student Lisa Bolland with a beautiful 'Mermaid Princess' design in
the hair art section and Diploma in Arts and Media student Angela
Simpson. Angela was extremely successful and was selected as not
only the hat art winner for the Spine chiller section but also as
the overall hat art, supreme winner with her 'predator' design and
a special prize; the workmanship award.
Aoraki Polytechnic also sponsored the event by donating the
money for the Student/ Apprenticeship winner.