Selwyn Times: August 07, 2019

6 Wednesday August 7 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
News
Tribute garment makes WOW finals
• By Devon Bolger
THE GARMENT Leeston
designer Loretta Sloan made as
a tribute to the victims of the
mosque shootings has landed her
in the finals of the international
World of Wearable Art show.
Mrs Sloan said she got the idea
after attending a memorial ceremony
at the Al Noor Mosque.
“Hundreds and hundreds of
people were there paying tribute,”
she said.
“I went home that night and
thought what can I do to give
back? So I’m giving back to them
as a form of art.”
She engaged with the family
of a victim who is still suffering
from the attack and they helped
her with aspects of the garment.
“I just wanted to reach out to a
family who was involved and let
them know that I was planning
this tribute.”
“It was really lovely meeting
them, listening to them and
hearing their stories. It was a real
emotional journey for me.”
Mrs Sloan said she is incredibly
proud that her garment will be
shown on the international stage.
“It’s not just about me, it goes
to all the families involved and
their friends. It extends out to
everyone who has been affected.”
She has continued to keep in
touch with the victim’s family
she worked with.
“I let them know the garment
made the finals and they were
really happy, it felt like my hard
work had paid off.”
Mrs Sloan spent nearly 400
hours constructing the garment
from scratch, it is made of New
Zealand wool.
The final piece can’t be revealed
until the World of Wearable
Art show.
About 60,000 people are
expected to attend WOW’s 31st
season in Wellington from
September 26 to October 13.
Mrs Sloan is one of two designers
from Canterbury chosen
to showcase her garment at the
show amongst finalists from 22
countries.
Last year’s winner Tina
Hutchinson-Thomas, 45, of St
Albans also made the cut.
This year she entered three
pieces which follow the
theme of mythology, and Mrs
Hutchinson-Thomas said the
design is based on shape and
colour – but couldn’t reveal more
than that.
Mrs Hutchinson-Thomas once
doubted whether she was arty
enough for WOW – this is now
her third year of entering the
competition, and her third time
being a finalist.
Mrs Sloan has entered the
show 10 times before.
She said she hopes her success
inspires other people in the community
to give it a go.
“It’s an honour to be accepted
into the show and hopefully I
SUCCESS:
Loretta Sloan,
finalist in the
2019 World of
Wearable Art
show, with one
of her previous
works. She
created this
year’s garment
as a tribute to the
mosque terror
attack victims.
PHOTO: MARTIN
HUNTER
can inspire anyone who may
have a creative urge to enter
too.”
She will be attending the show
with her family and friends, Mrs
Sloan said.
“I’m really looking forward to
it, it’s always great to see your
designs on a worldwide stage, it’s
a fantastic show and I encourage
everyone to head along.
“Every garment is special but
I think this one in particular,
because of the story behind it,
means quite a lot to me.”
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