CULTURE

Cantabrian Magazine  was amongst the sold-out crowd who attended Couture in the Gardens, presented by Jacqueline-Anne as part of the grand finale of this year's iconic Hamilton Arts Festival, held on Sunday, March 3rd.

As 15 models descended the winding staircase of the Italian Renaissance Garden at The Hamilton Gardens, the audience was awestruck by the extraordinary craftsmanship showcased in a breathtaking collection of high-fashion couture. Each piece served as a vibrant homage to the flowers that bloomed in Jacqueline's grandparents’ expansive garden during her childhood.

The presentation was divided into two distinct segments: ready-to-wear and evening/event wear. Both segments embraced the floral theme, celebrating some of the world's most captivating flowers. Among the stunning pieces were a magnificent Dandelion headpiece, an exquisite Pansy evening gown, a striking ombré Kowhai pantsuit, and many other remarkable creations inspired by Roses, Bird of Paradise, Lilies, and Carnations.

This show marked a groundbreaking first—not only at Hamilton Gardens but also in Aotearoa. With an air of sophistication and grandeur reminiscent of the renowned European fashion houses, it was truly a pioneering moment in Kiwi fashion.

The spectacle would not have reached such levels of excellence without the collaborative Millinery custom made by world renowned Milliner Mel Atherious, the hair team lead by Toni and Guy’s, Bronwyn Kronfeld, recent recipient of  New Zealand Professional Hair Educator of the year, The Make-up team lead by Hannah Vassallo, and finally the most remarkable artistry of the Art of Nails. Each set of nails was painstakingly hand-crafted with hours of precise skill, contributing to the creation of the most perfect and complete collection ever witnessed in New Zealand. Special shout out to the makeup sponsor Max and Louie.

The Women Entrepreneurs Fund is supported by The Christchurch Foundation's generous donor Joy Shivas. And the winners are:

• Jessica Fitzjohn, Post-Doctorate Researcher at UC, awarded $10K + additional $2,500 from Vicki Ledergerber (judge and previous recipient) to support clinical trials and regulatory compliance of a revolutionary breast screening device.

• Alli Kennedy, Founder of Flip the Table Games, awarded $10K to support the development of Sharenanigans, a board game that helps teach financial literacy.

• Emmalee Abbott Joe, Founder Froth, awarded $10K to support refining formulations and building strategic partnerships for a revolutionary line of dissolvable shampoo, conditioner and body wash tablets.

Interim GM Lynne Umbers told us,  "They are all very passionate about their work and what they hope to accomplish in the future and we're delighted to be supporting them at this crucial time."

For those interested in learning more about the Women Entrepreneurs Fund winners or supporting female entrepreneurs in the greater Christchurch region, please reach out to Lynne.

Visit christchurchfoundation.org.nz for more information.