Last week for public to have say on best young NZ designer

Media release

Newmarket Business Association

Sunday, 27 September 2009

The public has one week left to vote for their favourite garment as part of the 2009 Newmarket Young Fashion Designer Award. Thirty-five garments
designed by teenagers from around New Zealand are on display upstairs at
Rialto until 5pm, Sunday 4 October.

The People's Choice category enables the public to have their say and be
into win a $500 Rialto Centre shopping voucher.

"It's a great opportunity for the general public to have their say. The
garments of the 35 finalists look amazing on the mannequins and the 18th
century influence is certainly showing through. What's more we're
getting more people voting than we did last year," says award organiser
and Newmarket marketing manager, Lea Worth.

The People's Choice Award deliberately coincided with Air New Zealand
Fashion Week with the young designer who gets the most public votes set
to win a cash prize of $500.
The winner of the People's Choice and the overall winner of the
Newmarket Young Fashion Designer Award will be announced at the award's
evening and fashion show on 20 October at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre.
Prizes will also be given for the runner ups and highly commended.

Judging took place at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design on 17
September with judges Elisabeth Findlay (Zambesi), Paul Huege de
Serville (Serville hair salons), Belinda Watt (Whitecliffe), Meegan
Pollock (Centrepoint Fabrics), and Maria Beer (Qantas).

The overall winner of the Newmarket Young Fashion Designer Award will
fly Qantas for two to New York. He or she will get to work backstage at
the Karen Walker Show at New York Fashion Week and will receive $1,000NZ
spending money. The winning designer will also receive a 12-month
scholarship at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, and a two-week
design assistant internship working alongside Auckland designer Vicki
Taylor in the Taylor Workroom.

"Last year's inaugural winner Paris Kirby of Westlake Girls' said
winning the award has changed her life. Not only did she go to New York
and is studying at Whitecliffe but she worked at Fashion Week this year.
On 20 October we will know who our 2009 winner is. We can't wait," says
Lea Worth.

ENDS

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