Five NorthTec Fashion and Design students are nervously awaiting their first fashion show next week. The students will be showcasing work from the first year of their two-year diploma alongside work from graduating second year students and students who have completed a 6-month programme in childrenswear.

"It's scary but exciting!" said Jessica Smith. Jessica, who hails from Waipu, will be exhibiting six looks in the show and hopes to start her own clothing label one day. "The NorthTec programme has been great. We've learnt the process of creating our own clothing from design through to construction. I'm picking up techniques all the time."

"It's a very thorough learning process," said fellow student Gaylene Campbell. "From the initial drawings we do onwards we get lots or critique and re-work or designs before transferring our drawings to patterns."

For Gaylene the upcoming show will be the first time that her family have seen her work. "My goal when I started the programme was to make clothes for myself and my family but now I've been inspired to start my own label. Our patternmaking tutor Sarah Hewlett has her own label 'Holic' and she has shown me that it can be done, even with a family. "It's hard to juggle kids and study as a single Mum. There have been so many times when I've wanted to quit this year but my kids said, 'We've put up with too much for you to quit now!'"

Kaikohe-based student and mother of three Kohi Manukau has been supported by her whānau to take on the challenge of commuting to Whangarei four days each week to do the programme. "I don't like the travel but when I get here I'm glad I'm here. It'll be worth it! I'm fortunate that I've got really good whānau support from my Mum and partner. I would love my own label - that's why I started the course."

Fellow student Navit Skelton has a different ambition, one with its roots all the way back to when she first started sewing on her mother's treadle machine. "I would like to do costume design for movies."

The students are all returning for the second year of their diploma studies at NorthTec next year but in the meantime they are looking forward to showing their looks on 29 November at Forum North as part of the 'Juxtapose' show from 7pm onwards. Renata Poa-Matthews will be MC for the event which features local models ranging in age from 18 months to 36 years old. Tickets for the event are still available at Forum North.