Mai I Te Pō Ki Te Ao Mārama
Georgia Coomber
Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui-Waikato
Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua As man disappears, the land remains
Whaiwhia te kete mātauranga Fill the basket of knowledge
Bachelor of Design with Honours
Fashion Design
This collection centres Māori thinking within the design process, grounding each garment in pūrākau, whakataukī, and the cyclical movement between darkness and light. Drawing on the Te Aonui framework, the work reflects a non-linear, intuitive approach. One that mirrors both natural rhythms and the creative journey itself.
Rather than focusing solely on the story of creation, Mai i Te Pō ki te Ao Mārama became an exploration of the act of creation. Each look is guided by a whakataukī, acting as both concept and compass, anchoring the designs in mātauranga Māori. Through this process, I have learned to trust in uncertainty, honour the unseen phases of making, and find resolution in the act of emergence. From Te Kore, through Te Pō, and into Te Ao Mārama.
Rather than focusing solely on the story of creation, Mai i Te Pō ki te Ao Mārama became an exploration of the act of creation. Each look is guided by a whakataukī, acting as both concept and compass, anchoring the designs in mātauranga Māori. Through this process, I have learned to trust in uncertainty, honour the unseen phases of making, and find resolution in the act of emergence. From Te Kore, through Te Pō, and into Te Ao Mārama.
