The second Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival has wrapped, leaving the Garden City with a renewed sense of energy and creativity.
Inside Te Pae, brighter colours, shorter hemlines and anticipation for the warmer months offered a welcome contrast to the cooler weather outside. But beyond the runway, it was the people, shared experiences and positive impact that made this year’s festival about more than just fashion.
From locals exploring personal style to industry leaders sharing their expertise and emerging designers stepping into the spotlight, the festival demonstrated fashion’s ability to bring people together and create opportunities for connection.
Bringing New Zealand fashion to Christchurch
New Zealand Fashion Week brought some of the country’s leading fashion talent to the city, with The New Guard Show selling out and The Spring Edit proving so popular that a second show was added.
At Westfield Riccarton, Sammy Salsa hosted Behind the Edit, featuring NZFW Creative Director Dan Ahwa, CSFF Hair Director Tuscany Hamel and CSFF Makeup Director Kendal McSorley. Through live tutorials, styling tips and behind-the-scenes insights, the panel offered an accessible look at the creative process, extending the festival’s reach into the wider community.
Celebrating the next generation of fashion talent
Alongside established fashion names, the festival also spotlighted emerging creatives through Fashion Forward: The Next Generation in Conversation. The panel brought Untouched World’s Peri Drysdale together with Skye Zöfia Marryatt, Mima Lewis Gourdie, Alex O’Hagan and Rosette Hailes-Paku to share their experiences, ambitions and vision for New Zealand fashion.
The discussion explored the diverse pathways into the industry, offering valuable insights and encouragement for aspiring fashion professionals.
Fashion with a greater purpose
Friday night’s Fashion For A Cure gala, presented by Breast Cancer Cure, raised more than $136,000 for breast cancer research, bringing 292 guests together in support of the cause. A standout moment of the weekend, it highlighted how fashion can unite people and make a meaningful difference beyond the clothes we wear.
Where fashion meets sport
The festival’s collaborative spirit continued with In Motion, a collaboration with Sport NZ, celebrating its 100 Years of Unity in Sport campaign and the connection between Aotearoa and India.
Reimagining vintage athletic pieces on the runway, the show explored the influence of sporting culture on fashion, featuring well-known athletes including Black Cap Ish Sodhi, cricketer Frankie Mackay, American rugby union player Jett Hayward and New Zealand rugby union player Lucy Jenkins.
A lasting impact beyond the runway
From sold-out shows and emerging designers to fundraising for breast cancer research, the second Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival showcased fashion’s ability to enrich the city’s cultural life, bring people together and strengthen Christchurch’s place in New Zealand’s fashion landscape.
Ultimately, the festival was a reminder that fashion is about more than what we wear. It can inspire creativity, champion important causes and foster connections that last long after the final look leaves the runway.
Imagery credits: Meg Stuthridge and Harriet Carter