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    Nga Pumanawa e Waru Education Trust

    diligence
    relationships
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    Adrienne Whitewood & Ahu

    Values: Diligence, innovation, identity

    dress.png
    Even though Adrienne Whitewood didn’t do as well as she wanted to during her last year of school that wasn’t going to stop her living her dream of becoming a fashion designer.
     
    When she found out that she need better marks to get in Auckland University of Technology to study fashion, she decided to go back and do her last year at school again.
     
    Today, Adrienne has her own fashion store Ahu Boutique in Rotorua and has had her Māori inspired clothing and jewellery seen all over the world.  ‘Ahu’ means to help grow, nurture, create or fashion in Te Reo. The name ‘Ahu’ is perfect for her business because Adrienne’s designs are helping to grow and nurture the local Rotorua fashion industry.
     
    Adrienne’s clothes are often inspired by the beautiful and courageous Te Arawa heroine Hinemoa. Adrienne used the face of one of Hinemoa’s descendants Councillor Tania Tapsell as inspiration to design the face of Hinemoa in one of her popular designs.
     
    Adrienne was taught how to sew by her Grandmother and she kept her interest in fashion right through her schooling, from Malfroy Primary to Rotorua Intermediate and then Rotorua Girl’s High School.  
     
    She takes a keen interest in Pacific design and enjoys talking to, and learning from other designers in the Pacific region.
     
    Adrienne is leading the way for young people who love their culture and want to live in Rotorua and grow business and creativity in the region but are still able make their work known all over the world.

    Values: diligence, innovation, identity

    Here’s a tip:

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    You can see photos of Adrienne’s special designs on her Instagram account:

    https://www.instagram.com/adriennewhitewood/

    More to watch:

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    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503430&gal_cid=1503430&gallery_id=180104

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM9gyaZ6hHM

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    See Adrienne talking about collaborating with Te Papa:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/good-news/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503279&objectid=12135406

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    More to read:

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    https://adriennewhitewood.com/

    http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/collections/explore-highlights/taniko-contemporary-maori-fashion

     

    More to listen to:

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    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/teahikaa/audio/201798061/maori-innovation-adrienne-whitewood

     

    This entry is related to these other entries:

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    Te Arawa Fibre Arts


    Sources:


    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503434&objectid=11846495

    http://www.rotoruanz.com/visit/dining-retail/retail/clothing/ahu-boutique-adrienne-whitewood