The Metropolitan Museum in New York features the work of renowned fashion designers such as Dior, Chanel and Gautier are on show. Shona Tawhiao could be adding her own name to that list given her exceptional work in this field.
Tawhiao has moved to the Big Smoke to prepare for her trip to the Big Apple. She's a weaver from Mataatua and is in Auckland for her fashion show celebrating Matariki. It's also a fundraiser to help pay for her trip.
“I think my work's really popular which is great, but it's all still 'fame' and that's about it.” Says Tawhiao.
Woven flax is the basis of her modern fashion designs. Her extraordinary and innovative work are the reason why the Metropolitan Museum in New York invited her to exhibit.
Tawhiao will spend three weeks at The Costume Institute, an arm of the museum. It was set up by the fashion industry to show the best work of famous designers.
“The contemporary aspect of it will I might get a bit of inspiration from it all because you kind of get in a slump when it comes to inspiration, so that will be the best thing about the trip,” says Tawhiao.
She flies to New York on July 27, to take her bite out of the Big Apple.