New Zealand Fashion Week Goes Global

Lucire and L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week go global with Rebecca Weinberg, Brian Long and guests

Noted American stylist and publicist ‘thrilled’ about independent fashion spirit; plans to connect NZ with international media

Auckland, October 16 (JY&A Media) Lucire, L'Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week, Rebecca Weinberg and Brian Long are all helping to make Kiwi fashion “globally relevant” in addition to “defiantly different”.

Lucire, Official Internet Partner and support sponsor of L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week, is not the only global touch this year. Famous stylist Rebecca Weinberg—whose credits include Sex and the City—is one of the confirmed A-list guests, as well as noted publicist and fashion show producer Brian S. Long of Apropo Showroom and Press. And the guest list isn't finished—rumours abound about others to confirm in the final week leading to the event.

Ms Weinberg said, ‘I feel very excited to be asked to be a part of an exotic fashion week. For an American, it seems so far. I couldn't be more thrilled.

‘I think it is great that lines like Zambesi will finally be on par with their European and American brands.
‘It is cool that they are beating their own drums and not doing what everyone [else] is doing.

‘With us big-mouth Yanks, like my friend, super-publicist Brian Long, and I around, we will make sure that everyone in North America knows what they have been missing.’

Mr Long shares his compatriot’s sentiments. ‘I am thrilled to be afforded the chance to see the collections of a country that have been virtually untapped by North America for so long. We see many great collections from South America, Japan and Europe, but now …’

He looks forward to bringing his expertise to New Zealand designers and to set up mutually beneficial relationships with the American media.

L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week managing director Pieter Stewart said, ‘Bringing people like Rebecca and Brian to L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week is another way of enhancing the reputation New Zealanders in fashion are building for themselves as “defiantly different”.

‘We see the skills and contacts of stylists and publicists as entirely complementary to the influence of the key international fashion editors and the vision and experience of the big retail buyers.

‘We talk about exploring the unchartered waters of global fashion in terms of New Zealand designers. People like Rebecca love this vision and really respond to the idea which, of course, spells export dollars for New Zealand,’ said Mrs Stewart.

She added, ‘The emergence of fashion web sites like Lucire, our official online partner is another layer to the mix. We are fortunate to have such an influential example of this new media based in New Zealand and we are delighted that Jack Yan and his team have as much faith in New Zealand designers as anybody. Like Rebecca, they want to tell the world about the way New Zealand views fashion.’

Lucire, a mainstay of international fashion weeks, celebrates its fifth anniversary on the day Fashion Week begins.

Lucire will host private drinks in Auckland at 1 p.m. on October 21, the first day of L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week, at which publisher Jack Yan and invited guests will celebrate the magazine's fifth anniversary. A fifth anniversary issue débuts this week and is accessible from its web site at .

About Lucire
Lucire, the global fashion magazine, is one of the world's leading fashion titles on the web. Founded in 1997, it covers fashion, beauty, travel and lifestyle, with a global perspective for today's woman. It is known for providing in-depth, quality journalism. The magazine is targeted at the woman who is tired of the offerings from established fashion players, and chooses to be herself. Lucire is available at and its content appears under licence at numerous major sites including iWon.com and Totalwoman.

In August 2001, Lucire received 13,000 unique visitors daily. According to Alexa Internet, Lucire is one of the top-ranked pure-play fashion titles in the world.

About Apropo Press
Apropo Press is a full-service public relations firm that caters to the unique and specific needs of clients in the fashion and lifestyle industries.

Established in 2001 by public relations professional Brian Long and successful showroom owner Uri Alter, Apropo Press combines strong entrepreneurial skills and well seasoned experience with pro-active innovative thinking, intelligent strategy, and a commitment to the creation of great work; a dynamic combination that consistently achieves the desired visibility and impact on the market for the client.

Apropo Press is a boutique agency that prides itself on its energetic and upbeat environment. Services include but are not limited to editorial and feature placement, event planning, fashion show production, and product placement.

Apropo Press has grown at a rapid pace since its original opening, now boasting 13 fashion clients and two art and interior clients. In 2002 the agency expanded, opening a Los Angeles office under the direction of public relations veteran Louis Canales. The company plans to continue with its focus on great style, and include more lifestyle and fashion clients in the future.

About L’Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week
L'Oréal New Zealand Fashion Week is designed to showcase to the world New Zealand's "defiantly different" fashion attitude. A number of new prominent, high-profile buyers and media will be invited to attend this year's event together with many who attended last year and are keen to come back.

About L’Oréal Paris
L’Oréal Paris is a name known throughout the world that has no equal in the realm of beauty. It is a name that shines through its diversity, through well-known faces from all over the world: Claudia Schiffer, Milla Jovovich, Dayle Haddon, Andie MacDowell, Heather Locklear, Laetitia Casta, Virginie Ledoyen, Catherine Deneuve, Gong Li, Vanessa Williams, Diana Hayden, Noémie Lenoir, Jessica Alba, Beyoncé Knowles and Charlize Theron. Present in 120 countries, L’Oréal Paris is based on a single philosophy: to provide the most innovative, high-quality and technologically-advanced products at the most affordable price best price for men, women, and children of all ages and ethnicities.

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