ESSJAY BENNETT

Essjay is grounded in te ao Māori as a rumaki student, shaped by Te Reo me ōna tikanga. Manaakitanga, whānau, community, and care for te taiao guide both who he is and how he designs.

He’s a dedicated sportsman, playing basketball since age six, and has also competed in soccer and touch. Team environments fuel his discipline, confidence, and connection.

A passionate gamer, he enjoys creative and strategic games like Fortnite and minecraft, where his imagination and problem solving thrive.

Essjay is kind, thoughtful, and mature beyond his years. Diagnosed with ADHD, he sees it as a strength, his mind works differently, and that difference drives his bold, original designs.

He leads with creativity, aroha, and a genuine desire to uplift others as he grows.

2022: First Designs At Recycle the Runway Rotorua

Essjay’s first step into design happened at Recycle the Runway Rotorua, where he created his first mini collection and modelled it alongside his cousins Izzy and Awhina. Together, they won second place in the Vanish Landfill competition.

In that same show, Kiddiewinks supported two more young designers - Te Amaroa, and Santana with a full team of young models ranging from 2 to 19 years old.

This experience changed everything. Essjay didn’t just enjoy it, he fell in love with designing.

2023: Te Whānau Maunga Fundraiser Show

The following year, Kiddiewinks supported the Te Whānau ā Maunga fundraiser fashion show, where Essjay both modelled and showed another mini collection.

At this show, he won:

Most Creative Look
Most Wearable Fashion
First Place in the Disney Category

This was a huge confidence boost and confirmed that design was more than just a hobby.

2024 Guest Designer, Dress for Success Auckland

In 2024, Essjay was invited to be the guest designer at Dress for Success Auckland’s 25th Anniversary Show, a massive milestone.

He created a collection titled “The Future of Women’s Fashion” and took:

9 young models (aged 7–17)
3 aspiring young designers
4 support staff

The show was an incredible success and received amazing feedback. Even more special, every single look was later sold through the Classic Couture shop in Rotorua, run by Dress for Success Rotorua.

This is also where one of Essjay’s biggest supporters, Ans, became part of his journey. She has followed him since Recycle the Runway and has since become an integral part of his success, helping promote his work, organise fundraising, and always making time to support his growth. She is very much part of the whānau.

2025 Growing Through Sustainability & Bigger Stages

In July, Ans held a small fashion showcase night at the Classic Coture shop to help Essjay fundraise. He showed a sneak peak of his spring collection that would later feature in an upcoming show. A small group of beautiful young models that have supported him through the years made this possible also.

ENVIROHUB RE-STITCHED

Early 2025, Essjay entered the Envirohub Sustainable Fashion Competition. While he didn’t place, it was a powerful learning experience. This competition focused far more on sustainability than fashion, opening a whole new world of thinking for him and pushing him to become even more creative with materials and repurposed fabrics.

BLOSSOMS SHOW 2025

In October he showcased his 16 piece Spring Collection at the Blossoms Fashion Show in Auckland, a huge step up and a completely new experience, as he worked with models from The House of Bree Modelling School for the first time.

Through this, he gained a whole new extended fashion whānau, especially Britts and the House of Bree families, who have been incredibly supportive of his journey.

2026 and Beyond: The Next Chapter

Now, in January 2026, Essjay’s journey is accelerating fast

He has been invited to do an international collaboration with House of Bree at Bangkok Children’s Fashion (December 2026)
He will show at Blossoms Christchurch in July
Blossoms Auckland in October

And he has been asked to design for House of Bree models at the Top Model New Zealand Youth Competition 2026

At just 12 years old, Essjay is only just getting started. His journey is still unfolding, and he is proud to be part of a kaupapa

that is now opening these same doors for many more rangatahi through Kiddiewinks - Rerehua Rehua.

Watch this space. The best is yet to come.

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