Chance for emerging designers to show flair

Third-year Otago Polytechnic fashion design student Sara Dooley checks the entry form for the 2011 iD international emerging designer awards, while her student colleagues get on with preparing their collections. Photo by Craig Baxter.

The show will take place in Dunedin on April 7.

Otago Polytechnic School of Design academic leader (fashion) Margo Barton said the competition, which is open to recent graduates or final year students from a recognised fashion-related course, was an opportunity for emerging fashion designers to gain exposure and differentiate themselves from other designers.

The show was an international platform for rising local and international fashion design talent and the calibre of those taking part was demonstrated by finalists who had gone on to win prizes at international fashion competitions, show at Milan and New York Fashion Weeks and/or secure employment with major European and Australian fashion houses.

The chairwoman of the iD fashion committee, Susie Staley, said the growing number of entries each year from prestigious fashion schools reflected the regard in which the competition was held.

As always, funding was an issue, she said.

"We welcome any interested parties to seize the opportunity to be part of a long-standing, successful week of public fashion events, the only one of its kind in New Zealand."

Entries close on December 3.

Last year, more than 120 entries from 19 countries were received for the emerging designer awards, with 31 finalists taking part.