Great fashion in great venue 

The Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium was transformed into a citadel of fashion for the black tie/long gown Canterbury Fashion Collections and Awards 2005, 4 November 2005

Menswear from Off the Cuff by designer Bernadette Robinson…one of the 30 plus collections presented in a fast paced black tie event that drew an appreciative and capacity audience. Event manager Denyse Saunders (left on stage) hosted the evening. Christchurch-based designer Takaaki Sakaguchi won five Awards including the Supreme Award.

This was the first time the Canterbury Fashion Collections and Awards were held in the Town Hall, and it was fitting that an event featuring the leading Canterbury fashion designers and showcasing their new season’s collections should be held in such a prestigious setting.

Event manager Denyse Saunders hosted a fast and exciting show with the allure of fame, fashion and fabulous people, and 15 Awards at stake. 

Downstairs in the Auditorium tables were reserved for guests for a pre-show dinner, the show and the after-show party. The upstairs seating was for an audience who saw the collections and Awards.The house was fully sold out.

One designer took out a record five awards at the Christchurch Casino Canterbury Fashion Week 2005 Collections & Awards. Takaaki Sakaguchi not only won the Supreme Award but also the Innovative Fabric, Creative, Design of Elegance and High Fashion Designer awards - the international and national judging panel described his work - influenced by both Japanese kimono and western design - as "brilliant". Since the launch of its first ready-to-wear collection in 2003, the business recently successfully completed its fourth export delivery and, in March 2005 the wholesale account base increased by more than 100%.  Now Sakaguchi Ltd, the company plans to continue adding to its Australasian client base.

The Canterbury Fashion Collections & Awards launched a week of fashion and races with the New Zealand Cup & Show Week and the Christchurch Casino Canterbury Fashion Week bringing thousands of people to the city, 4-12 November.