Last to have say on best NZ young designer

Media release

Newmarket Business Association

Tuesday 29 September 2009

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

The public has less than 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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