HAMILTON high school student Samantha Langley has won a scholarship at Australia's premier wool fashion awards.
The Year 12 Monivae College student was one of 200 students who entered in this year’s secondary student section themed Cirque Du Wool competition at the Australian Wool Fashion Awards, held in Tamworth, NSW.
The budding designer has been awarded a short course scholarship to study Fashion Illustration at the White House Institute in Sydney or Melbourne.
Founder of the Australian Wool Fashions Awards Liz Foster said the judges were blown away by Samantha’s unique idea to incorporate a hand-crocheted component that represented the trapeze net in her creation.
This year's competition judges were two designers - Sarah-Jane Clarke, the Sass & Bide co-founder, and Jonathon Ward, head of Jonathon Ward Couture and executive designer for RM Williams - celebrity Catriona Rowntree, who is married to Victorian woolgrower and has designed a range of children's clothing.
Miss Langley was surprised to have won the award.
“I was overwhelmed when it was awarded to me, I couldn’t believe that my garment had won, this will be an experience of a lifetime,” she said.
“I enjoy working with the wool fabrics, it is a fabric that has endless possibilities.
"The biggest challenge for me in making the garment was keeping to the criteria and learning how to crochet...from a family friend to complete my garment."