NZ Fashion Makes Top 10 at the Melbourne Cup

New Zealand fashion designer Robyn Brooks, the talent behind the stand out label Ooby Ryn, last week flew to Melbourne to battle it out in the Melbourne Cup Fashion in the Field competition.

Wearing an Ooby Ryn design, loyal customer Zoe Prentice took out first place at last year’s Cambridge Melbourne Cup Fashion in the Field competition in conjunction with Victoria Racing Club, qualifying her to fly to Melbourne this year to compete with automatic entry into the preliminary finals.

With over 650 entrants, Brooks was thrilled to make it into the top 10 finalists with an exclusive design made just for the occasion as well as showcasing her millenary skills with a handmade hatinator to match.

“I am absolutely thrilled and overwhelmed with the result and positive feedback I received about my design,” says Robyn. “It was a very proud moment to be able to represent New Zealand fashion design on an international level.”

And if making the top 10 wasn’t enough for Brooks, then rubbing shoulders with worldwide milliner phenomenon, Philip Treacy (pictured above) certainly was. “Philip Treacy has been such a huge inspiration for me and I am extremely thrilled to have had the opportunity to meet him in Melbourne."

Proving she is a racewear designer to watch, Robyn Brooks’ perfectly acquired taste for creating award winning race wear flourished from a young age growing up in New Zealand’s equine hub, Cambridge as well as coming from a family that owns and trains race horses.  It was not until a series of career mishaps guided her onto the path of combining her equine love with fashion.