Call for designers to be part of iD Dunedin Fashion Week

Fashion designers looking to be part of the prestigious 2013 iD Dunedin Fashion Week are being called to register their interest for the iD Fashion Show and iD International Emerging Designer Awards.

The iD Fashion Show – now in its 14th year is New Zealand’s longest standing retail fashion show. The fashion show will take place over two nights (Friday March 15 and Saturday March 16, 2013) on the Southern Hemisphere’s longest catwalk at Dunedin’s historic Railway Station. High profile and emerging Kiwi designers are being asked to submit portfolios for the hugely popular public fashion event.

iD Dunedin Fashion Week Committee Chair Susie Staley says the iD Fashion Show offers designers an opportunity to have their latest winter collections seen on the runway and encourages attendees to indulge in ‘retail experiences’ throughout the week.

“We like to ensure the show line-up offers a glimpse of new designers on their way to establishing their label, alongside many of our longstanding favourites – as well as a collection from an international guest designer. The selection process is facilitated by industry professionals based on designer portfolios submitted,” says Susie.

Fashion designers interested in participating in the iD Fashion Show must be commercially producing directional adult fashion and be able to demonstrate an affiliation with Dunedin – such as having lived, studied, or be retailing in the city.

Applications are now also open for next year’s iD International Emerging Designer Awards, marking the ninth year of this sought after international fashion competition. Attracting entries from some of the world’s most prominent fashion schools, finalists will compete for the title of ‘emerging designer’.  

Organising Committee member Margo Barton says the iD Awards are truly an international event and attract a high calibre of international and national talent.

“Emerging designers who want their collections to be noticed and take the next big step in their career need to get working on their entries now,” says Margo.

The iD Awards provide an international platform for emerging designers to showcase their innovative collections. Finalists have access to high profile established designers and a judging panel made up of industry experts.

Past judges have included British style icon and twice crowned British fashion journalist of the year Hilary Alexander and Paris-based fashion designer Lutz Huelle (in 2012) and other fashion luminaries; British fashion royalty Zandra Rhodes, Australian fashion designer Akira Isogawa , Francis Hooper (WORLD), Margi Robertson (Nom*D), Tanya Carlson (Carlson), Adrian Hailwood and Cybèle Wiren.

Prizes include NZ$5000 for first place, $3000 for second and $1000 for third. Other special prizes yet to be announced. Designers submitting an entry to the iD Awards must be recent graduates (within the past five years) or final-year students enrolled in a recognised diploma, BDes, BA, MA Jewellery, or other fashion-related course. 

iD Fashion Show submissions must be received by Friday 19 October, 2012.

iD International Emerging Designer Award applications must be received by Wednesday 21 November, 2012. For more information including iD Show designer selection packages and iD Award application forms visit www.idfashion.co.nz