Aotearoa evening gown

Bruce Papas made this gown for Miss Asia Pacific New Zealand 1980, Cara Pollock, to wear as her 'national costume' for the awards in Manilla in the Philippines. The gown was made in dip-dyed chiffon to represent the land of the long white cloud with the hand held train designed to catch the air and float as she came on stage. Cara placed as third runner up. Bruce dyed the fabric at his home in Titirangi, stringing it between the native trees on his property to dry. Read more about Bruce Papas in the New Zealand Fashion Museum publication, A Certain Style.

Details

Credit: Garment loan courtesy of Cara Pollock
Copyright: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 Licence
Designer: Bruce Papas
Manufacturing location: Titirangi, Auckland
Garment type: Evening gown
Material: Chiffon
Features: The fabric was dip-dyed before it was made into the gown.
Colour: White, blue
Exhibition: A Certain Style: Bruce Papas, March 2018
Label: Bruce Papas Model
Date: 1980