The fashion show features recycled wool

Nothing was what it seemed.

The drinks were mockups, the models were the audience and most of the clothes started life as something else. However, everything was amazing.

The Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery in Alexandra was transformed into a catwalk on Saturday night, replacing the usual store with a woolen fashion show.

The audience ordered mocktails and desserts to enjoy while watching the models.

Winton fashion designer Diane Dynes, who uses recycled wool in her designs, began the evening by explaining her journey into upcycled wool.

Mrs. Dines had a shop where she sold her one-off designs.

“You don’t want to be seen in an op-shop, not like you are now,” she made a top from two old sweaters found in an op-shop.

They were instantly sold and she knew she was onto something.

A desire to live sustainably and reduce waste was at the heart of her life and work, Ms Daines said.

Early collections of cycling clothing were sold at markets and people’s interest in their construction inspired her next venture, she says.

After teaching dressmaking at SIT Invercargill for two years, she developed her own workshop program and traveled the world teaching how to transform discarded, old or damaged clothes into new and fashionable ones.

Upon arrival, her models, selected from the audience, showed off unique outfits that were bigger than the sum of their humble parts.

Merino wool, denim and small decorative details are all sourced from discarded jerseys, coats, jackets or jeans, and then reassembled into new creations.

The audience was able to stop the models to get a closer look at the techniques in the garments they were showing.

The second part of the evening showcased the winning outfits from last year’s Wool On Creative Fashion events.

WolOne committee member Frances Anderson said it doesn’t matter which box of clothes you open when you get ready for Saturday.

As per the competition’s criteria, all the costumes featured a minimum of 75% wool in amazing patterns and materials.

Lauder designer Bex Calder had two dresses on show.

One was embroidered and stitched on satin, and the other featured crochet with tiny pearls inside.

Entries for this year’s WoolOn event are now open.

Ms Daines will be running a workshop in Alexandra in March.