Kiwi Designers Secure Fashion Week Deal with Global Hair Brand

Two of New Zealand’s most promising designers will now show at NZ Fashion Week after securing a sponsorship deal with salon giant Wella Professionals.

Amy-Rose Goulding of Julian Danger and Shuai Zhang of ITZME will team up with the brand in a runway show with some of the world's top fashion media, international buyers and industry guests in attendance.

The partnership event will combine beautifully tailored and commercially exciting garments from the pair of carefully selected designers, who will present their overall vision for Autumn / Winter 2016 under a collaboration of striking hair trends constructed by the Wella team. 

Dunedin-based designer Amy-Rose Goulding takes inspiration from the disagreement between the worlds of urban sportswear, the street and rock culture to create her collections under the moniker Julian Danger.

“I’ve been honoured to have had some previous public interest on my journey so far,” explains Goulding, “however, the support from Wella Professionals has really helped to get Julian Danger on the runway this year. I'm super grateful for this, and I can't wait to showcase the collections in front of key buyers, international fashion journalists and beauty bloggers.”

Designer Shuai Zhang, of ITZME, was the darling of the NZ Fashion Week New Generation show in 2014 and prior to launching her own label, worked for Karen Walker.

Playing on traditional tailoring elements from menswear coupled with strong feminine perspective, ITZME has been called ‘fresh’, with a ‘perfect balance of subtle and daring’.

"Being part of the Wella Professionals Presents show is exciting for me on many levels, I believe everything creative is somewhat collaborative and I look forward to presenting a collection that encompasses great hair and great design,” she says.

Wella Professionals spokesperson Jerome Toulza says the company understands the importance of business backing and mentoring for identifying and developing talent at a stage in their career when they can most benefit from the support.

“Our now globally-recognised brand is celebrating 135 years and it all began with a seed of passion for style. We are now just as excited to be able to help open some commercial doors for these emerging and impressive labels,” she says.

The Wella Professionals styling teams will be led by award winning stylist Brad Lepper of French Revolver Studio and Servilles says Toulza.

“The Wella Professionals Presents show is ultimately about bringing together our award winning styling talent with two of New Zealand’s most exciting designers to show the natural and synergistic relationship between great hair and clothing.

“A hair style really can make or break the success of an overall look, and we are thrilled to be able to contribute in this way and to complete each designer’s polished ensemble on the runway.”

Wella Professionals Presents ITZME and Julian Danger will be held at NZ Fashion Week venue The Runway on Wednesday 26th August 2015 at 11am.