Putting on the Style

Writer and fashion curator Angela Lassig and founder of the newly launched New Zealand Fashion Museum Doris de Pont will talk about the evolution of NZ fashion at the Going West Books and Writers Weekend on Saturday September 11.

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New Zealand Fashion Design is described as the first comprehensive book on the creative world of contemporary New Zealand fashion. Fashion pundits sing its praises, welcoming the book as long overdue.

In this capacious publication, fashion curator Angela Lassig, recently of Te Papa, interviews and profiles 25 of our leading fashion designers, giving insights into their methods, design philosophy and inspiration.

Among the designers featured is the founder of the newly launched New Zealand Fashion Museum, Doris de Pont. Together Angela and Doris discuss the evolution of New Zealand fashion over the last 30 years, illuminating their discussion with a presentation of stunning images featured in the book.

Angela Lassig

After twenty-five years working as a curator in the museum sector in Australia and New Zealand, Queensland-born author Angela Lassig now works in Auckland as an independent fashion historian, writer and curator. Until last December, Angela was Senior Curator of History at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa where she specialised in fashion and textiles; building the collection, curating exhibitions and lecturing extensively on the subject.

New Zealand Fashion Design is the first of many books on aspects of New Zealand's rich and largely unexplored dress and textile history that Angela hopes to write.

Doris De Pont

Following on from 25 years as an important part of New Zealand’s creative high fashion design landscape, Doris de Pont is now turning her talent and experience towards the establishment of the New Zealand Fashion Museum, which will be the world’s first on-line fashion museum.

She has been described by Angela Lassig, in “New Zealand Fashion Design”, as ‘one of New Zealand’s most audacious and inventive fashion designers’.

Her career has been characterised by the pursuit of a distinctive local idiom, by the use of non-traditional materials and by a talent for collaboration.  These characteristics are again in evidence in the unconventional form and practice of the New Zealand Fashion Museum.  Its inaugural 'pop-up' exhibition, “Looking Terrific: the Story of El Jay”, has just opened in Wellington following a hugely successful first outing in Auckland in June and July this year. The Fashion Museum and its exhibition programme is the new focus for this experienced designer.

Books and Writers Weekend Saturday - 11 September 12.10pm

Going West 2010