Designers Invited to Be Part of iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2016

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September 22 2015

Designers Invited to Be Part of iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2016

Kiwi fashion designers looking to show at New Zealand’s premier retail fashion event – iD Dunedin Fashion Week – are being invited to apply now to secure their spot in the must-see iD Fashion Show held on Friday March 18 and Saturday March 19 at Dunedin’s iconic Railway Station.

Heading into its 17th year, and with a new-look organising committee and event manager, well-known radio personality Nicky Rennie, iD Dunedin Fashion Week looks set to impress with a week of unique and exciting fashion events, which will run from March 12-20, 2016.

The popular fashion week, supported by premier funder the Dunedin City Council, will include talks by prestigious overseas guests – yet to be revealed – international collaborations, catwalk shows, and retail events. It culminates in the prestigious 12th annual iD International Emerging Designer Awards held on Thursday March 17, and the highly popular iD Fashion Shows along one of the world’s longest catwalks on the platform of Dunedin Railway Station.

High profile and emerging Kiwi designers are being asked to submit portfolios for the hugely popular public fashion event. Fashion designers interested in participating must be commercially producing directional adult fashion. Links to Dunedin– such as retailing in the city, or having lived or studied in Dunedin – are not compulsory, but will be taken into account. Selections are made by industry professionals based on the designer portfolios submitted.

New iD Dunedin Fashion Week Committee Chair Cherry Lucas says next year’s event will present a new-look to the week, building on the success of past achievements, but with a fresh perspective provided by new organisers.

“As we head rapidly towards our 20th year, we must ensure that every year offers exciting new events and changes to the week that attract new designers, sponsors and event-goers. iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2016 is going to be an extraordinary event to be part of, so designers should be registering their interest now.”

Online applications are also open for next year’s iD International Emerging Designer Awards, to be held in Dunedin on Thursday March 17. Now in its 12th year, top cash prizes are on offer for this prestigious competition, which provides an international platform for rising local and international fashion design talent to showcase their innovative collections and gain further professional catwalk experience and networking opportunities.

Finalists have access to high profile established and emerging designers, a supportive professional environment and a judging panel made up of industry experts – which in the past has included leading designers such as UK milliner Stephen Jones and Paris-based designers Martin Grant and Lutz Huelle, alongside fashion gurus such as US vintage fashion queen Doris Raymond, the UK’s Hilary Alexander, and Australia’s Nicholas Huxley, Glynis Traill-Nash and Karen Webster.

Top prizes of NZ$6000 for First Place, NZ$4000 for Second Place and NZ$2000 for Third Place are on offer, alongside other cash and special prizes yet to be announced.

“This is an incredible opportunity for emerging designers looking to launch their fashion careers on a world stage,” says Dr Margo Barton, Professor of Fashion at the Otago Polytechnic School of Design, which is a major sponsor of the Awards.

“All our finalists get to meet and be critiqued by some of the world’s leading fashion notables, which can open doors in ways they’ve never imagined. Internships, networking opportunities, and the chance to show at a world event, this is an essential event for all emerging designers.”

This year, all Awards applications will be made online. Go to http://www.idfashion.co.nz/content/bepartofid.php to register.

iD Fashion Show submissions must be received by 31 October, 2015.

iD International Emerging Designer Award applications must be received by 30 November, 2015.

For more information on iD Show selection and iD Awards applications, visit www.idfashion.co.nz

ENDS

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