Aspiring to follow in the footsteps of fashion greats

Fashion designers Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney went there.

Now, last year's Mt Aspiring College head boy, Max Hall (18), is hoping to do the same.

To help with the substantial cost of five years' study at the University of the Arts London, Mr Hall is showing his art work in his "Mocking Birds" exhibition, in Wanaka for 10 days from February 10.

Mr Hall has been granted the use of Universal Developments' new office premises in Ardmore St for his exhibition and plans to use it to display his three-dimensional oil paintings.

The son of Jools and the late Dave Hall, Mr Hall said this week he had considered many career options in the past before settling on fashion design.

While it would be a new field for him, it appealed because it was something "constantly fast paced, high intensity, high quality, and also something that is always changing."

"I need to be pushing the boundaries."

Mr Hall said he loved the "very dark" style of Alexander McQueen although he was not sure it was something he would want to emulate.

"I enjoy the magic flair that it has.

"I like him because of his absolute passion [for fashion], and his ability to just constantly be different."

Mr Hall said he was leaving for Europe next month and planned to begin studying in London in September.

He expects he will need close to $30,000 for each of his five years of study.

Mr Hall was chosen to meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Auckland last year because of his contribution to the community, in particular the Central Otago anti-cyber bullying group Sticks 'n Stones.

At this year's Aspiring Art Prize, one of Mr Hall's paintings sold for $2600.