Georgia Coomber: From darkness into light

Mai i Te Pō ki Te Ao Mārama (“from darkness into light”) draws from the Māori pūrākau of creation. Honouring the ebb and flow of the natural world, from dusk to dawn, from idea to creation. Each look is guided by a whakataukī that acts as both concept and compass, grounding the design process in mātauranga Māori. Mai i Te Pō ki Te Ao Mārama is a reminder to move through uncertainty with intention, trusting that clarity cannot exist without darkness.

Georgia’s practice is grounded in storytelling, mātauranga Māori, and a deep respect for process. Through research, making, and reflection, she explores how kākahu can carry memory, identity, and cultural knowledge. Her work seeks to honour the past while contributing to the future of Māori design, creating garments that weave ancestral narratives into contemporary practice and reflect her evolving creative journey.

Georgia graduated with a Bachelor of Design in fashion design at the end of 2025. Although academically focused at high school, she realised that creativity and fashion were what she truly loved.

“I decided I had to make that decision and pursue something I love,” she says.

Wellington and Massey’s wider creative community offered the environment Georgia was looking for, a place where she could meet others working across different areas of design.

A defining experience came when she was selected for Renew, a Matariki-themed fashion programme in Delhi, India. Working with an Indian counterpart, Georgia designed two complementary looks that brought together Matariki and Indian values. Travelling to Delhi also introduced her to a new creative landscape, from the city’s energy to its remarkable fabrics.

Presenting her work at New Zealand Fashion Week holds particular significance. Georgia’s collection and wider kaupapa centre mātauranga Māori and Māori fashion design, and she sees this as an exciting time to contribute her own perspective.

“Being able to show at Fashion Week and show my take on Māori fashion is such an honour.”

Georgia credits her tutors, friends and whānau with helping her reach this point. She describes them as a village that celebrates the good days and listens through the difficult ones.

Now working as a design technician at Wellington Girls’ College, Georgia remains surrounded by young people discovering their own creativity. She is also planning her next collection, with hopes of presenting it through an intimate salon-style event.
Her ambitions extend into film and costume design, where clothing plays a pivotal role in shaping a story. Whatever form her next project takes, Georgia intends to keep researching, making and moving forward.

“I just want to keep making. Keep the ball rolling.”