Hamilton Girls’ High School students Brenna Easthope-Gay (left) and Minka Parker are finalists in a New Zealand Fashion Week 2026 event. Photo / Malisha Kumar

Two emerging fashion designers from Waikato are ready to hit the runway at New Zealand Fashion Week this month.

Hamilton Girls’ High School students Minka Parker, 17, and Brenna Easthope-Gay, 16, are among the 78 teen finalists from around the country preparing to showcase their creations as part of theWalk the Line event.

Walk the Line is a youth fashion show for designers aged 13 to 18, held as part of the fashion week since 2011.

This year’s event marks the “largest showcase in history”, organisers said.

Minka and Brenna will compete in the Avant-Garde category.

For Minka, it will be a return to the stage as her designs have scooped up awards at two Walk The Line shows already, the High Fashion category title in 2023 and the overall Supreme Designer of the Year in 2025.

Minka told the Waikato Heraldshe had a love for fashion from a young age and it runs in the family as her mum is a seamstress.

Despite growing up around fashion, she never expected to win awards for her creations.

“I think you should compete with yourself and not with other people.”

‘High-level designers’

Hamilton Girls’ High School textiles teacher Angela Tremayne said she was proud of her students for being finalists this year.

Tremayne said textiles was a “complex” subject requiring critical thinking, and she believed the pair had spent the past few years “mastering” that skill.

“These two have such potential to go places, like I can see them going further if that is their desire.”

She said the girls entered the competition and created their designs without her help.

“That’s where my pride is, because it’s showing their independence, their integrity, their direction and their passion.”

Tremayne got emotional talkingabout how much the girls had improved in her class.

She said she could tell almost straight away that Minka had “that spark” and Brenna’s spark has been “growing and growing”.

“So when they get noticed, that is huge for the rest of us in the industry.”

Tremayne wasn’t surprised when she heard the two girls were finalists – “I actually almost expected it”.

She said teachers often naturally became mentors and built relationships.

“You mother them a little bit, but you also have this protective side as well that you look after them.”

Tremayne believes the pair will be the “next generation of high-level designers”.

“I just want to see them doing their thing and feeling really proud of what they’ve done.”

New Zealand Fashion Week executive director Liam Taylor said Walk the Line was one of the most anticipated youth showcases on the fashion calendar.

“Every year we’re blown away by the originality, energy and fresh perspectives these young people bring to the runway,” Taylor said.

Walk the Line is presented by Raise Up, the youth development programme of The Y (formerly YMCA).

Finalists from around New Zealand compete across five categories: high fashion, streetwear, avant-garde, cultural fashion and a theme category, which is enchanted Earth this year.

One young creative will also win the overall Supreme Designer of the Year award.

Walk the Line takes place on August 22 at Shed 10, Auckland.

Among the other Waikato designers included in the wider fashion week is Adrian Williams, of Whitianga-based Adrion Atelier.

Adrion Atelier will showcase its collection as part of The Studio event on August 19.

Curated by fashion week creative director Dan Ahwa, The Studio will showcase some of the best contemporary designers shaping the next chapter of New Zealand fashion, reflecting a considered, evolving, and purposeful offering.

On social media, Adrion Atelier said it was honoured to be returning to fashion week.

“This collection is a reminder that making never exists in isolation.

“It is shaped by communities, shared knowledge, and the hands that continue to preserve traditions often overlooked in an increasingly fast-moving industry.”

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.