Drinkies with Rookies

Rookies- the Auckland AUT fashion design students- celebrated their graduation fashion show with drinks at the Symonds Street Gallery on Thursday night.

Held in between the 5.00 and 7.30pm shows, students, staff, media and sponsors met for a glass of wine amongst students' work displayed on mannequins.
 
Giant posters adorned the walls featuring fashon illustrations by last year's star pupil Nadeesha Godamunne, and the cool prints were also printed onto the tee-shirts in goody bags.

Below: Previous Rookie graduate Sherie Muijs of label Sherieyvonne and husband Jiwan Rai in front of one of the fashion illustration posters.



The graduation show was launched with speeches by the AUT and sponsor Auckland City Council praising the creativity of the students and the dedication of the AUT teaching staff combining to bring such a high standard of quality in design. 

Below, Rookies Meghann Hemmings, who showed ostrich leather outfits, and Sandra Tupu, who created menswear with drape in the graduation show. 



Below, guests at the AUT Rookies party.

Below; mannequins displayed outfits of students.

After the event, guests filed across the street to watch the Rookie catwalk show at St Paul's church on Symonds Street where their garments walked down the runway-aisle to rapturous applause from a capacity audience.

For more details on the Rookies and their work, go to www.autrookie.co.nz. Additional Rookie fashion will be on show in the Rookie Fashion & Costume Exhibition, 13 and 14 November 2009 at the AUT School of Art & Design in Auckland.

Words and photos Megan Robinson, 15 October 2009