Australian-based Māori designer Kylie Mangan has arrived in New Zealand to showcase her new collection 'Black meets White' at New Zealand Fashion Week.
As Te Kāea discovered, Kylie's journey into the fashion industry started from humble beginnings.
Mangan says, "My ultimate goal once I've established myself and I know what I'm doing, I would ultimately love to help other young Māori designers coming through, definitely."
Kylie started sewing on her kitchen table 8 years ago and won Miromoda's established designer competition this year.
"I was living in Australia so I was a little bit hesitant but four weeks out from the competition I thought yes, I'm going to do it, so I did and I got through and all the rest is history. This is my third time now so I decided to enter every year after that and it's just been so much fun," she says.
Her new collection entitled "Black Meets White" is based on her Māori and European heritage.
"Every piece I've made for tomorrow's show works well with each other, you could wear that coat with that pants, that top with that skirt, yeah. So, an easiness really but you still got to look cool," she adds.
In the past, Kylie incorporated Māori designs, but this year she took a different approach.
Her collection hits the catwalk at Miromoda's show tomorrow at the Auckland Viaduct.