A self-taught fashion designer from Balclutha is taking her latest design to what could be the biggest Hokonui Fashion Design Awards yet.
Jennie Hasler-Jacobs, of Balclutha, has entered a design in the Fantasia section of the awards, being held in Gore this weekend.
Her design, heavily inspired by "avant-garde'' themes, was being kept under wraps until the weekend, as per the rules of the competition.
"I'm very colourful, but then black is always good,'' she hinted.
She revealed the piece was made mostly from recycled boots.
"I do raid the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.''
Mrs Hasler-Jacobs learnt a lot about designing on her own, through "trial and error''.
"I've been designing stuff since I was a kid.''
Mrs Hasler-Jacobs said she is always looking for new ways to create original and interesting looks from recycled products.
She described her husband Brian as "the engineer'' for her looks, as he has helped develop new ways of putting extravagant parts of her designs together.
Even now she is collecting the plastic seals from milk bottles for a design.
"I've always got an eye for that sort of detail.''
Hokonui Awards convener Wade Paterson said the event was shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a record number of entries.
Mr Paterson's wife and previous event producer Heather Paterson died last year, but her legacy lives on with the large number of entries.
The 241 entries involve 335 garments.
"It's proven to me that the branding has worked very well and it has become a stand-alone event,'' Mr Paterson said.
He knew this year would be more difficult to organise.
The number of entries bore witness to the event's success and he was confident the two-night show would go smoothly.
"It's a pretty well-oiled machine that we have.''
The 28th Hokonui Fashion Design Awards will be held on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Gala Awards will be presented on Saturday night, in the Town and Country Stadium.
