Helana Cook

Costume Assistant
Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa in Fashion Design with minors in Creative Entrepreneurship and Experimental Surface Design

She was drawn to AUT because of the university’s hands-on approach, says Helana Cook who came to AUT to study fashion design.

“I’ve always been drawn to fashion and creativity, and AUT’s practical approach and resources really appealed to me. I attended an AUT open day while I was still in school and was inspired by the studio spaces, the student work, and the balance between conceptual thinking and hands-on making.”

Choosing AUT is a decision she certainly hasn’t regretted, and she thoroughly enjoyed her studies.

“The highlights for me were working closely with lecturers, developing my creative voice, and being challenged to think more deeply about my work and process. I also valued the collaborative environment and the opportunity to explore both conceptual and technical skills. The fashion design lecturers were incredibly supportive throughout my degree, particularly in encouraging me to strengthen both my technical skills and professional confidence. Their industry knowledge and feedback were invaluable.”

Combining film and fashion
After graduating from AUT at the end of 2025, Helana now loves working as a costume assistant in the film industry.

“As someone still fairly new to the film industry, I’ve already had the opportunity to work across several areas of costume to develop a broad range of skills. My work has included costume alterations, hand-finishing, buying, runner tasks, assisting with background fittings and on-set costume support, including continuity awareness, quick fixes, cast dressing and wrap. I like both the workroom and on-set environments for different reasons. In the workroom I enjoy the detailed, hands-on aspects of costume construction and finishing, while on set, I enjoy being part of a large collaborative team working together to create immersive worlds for audiences.”

She says her time at AUT prepared her well for her career now.

“AUT helped me build both technical and professional skills that I now use daily within the film industry, including garment alterations, hand-finishing, teamwork, communication and networking. Through this process, I gained valuable knowledge and, therefore, confidence for fulfilling requirements in a demanding environment. During my Creative Entrepreneurship minor I also learned the importance of building industry connections, which ultimately helped lead me toward my current role in film.”

Advice for other students
Helana – who is proud of receiving an AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarship to support her studies and of being awarded the Eileen Keer Memorial Award for Top Graduating Fashion Student of 2025 – has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their own university journey.

“Use project briefs as opportunities to strengthen the skills and areas of design you’re most drawn to, while still responding thoughtfully to the brief. Learning how to engage professionally with feedback is incredibly valuable, and university is a great environment to develop both your creative voice and confidence as a designer.”

She also has some guidance for those interested in a career in film and fashion.

“Building professional relationships is incredibly important within the film and fashion industries. Being reliable, approachable and willing to learn can open many opportunities, especially early in your career. It’s also important to be adaptable, as creative industries often involve freelance or contract-based work.”