Originality emerges as young designers front judges

Judging for the iD International Emerging Designer Awards is part job interview, part opportunity for fashion graduates to roll out phrases like ''big bold stripes'' and ''vibrant colour palette'' - and plenty of clothing from far out in left field.

There were clothes made to look like couches, and clothes that would work well on a spaceship.

At the Dunedin Centre yesterday, irons were steaming and models dressed up like a fabric store after a riot milled about.

At the head of the Glenroy Auditorium sat a judging panel of Auckland fashion designer Doris De Pont: NOM*d's Margarita Robertson; former Dunedin designer Tanya Carlson; international guest, The Way we Wore Los Angeles vintage boutique owner Doris Raymond; and MiNDFOOD magazine associate editor Carolyn Enting.

But the judging for the awards was no reality TV-style event. These judges were supportive and encouraging.

Auckland designer Jorge Alfaro shows off his works for the iD International Emerging Designer...
Auckland designer Jorge Alfaro shows off his works for the iD International Emerging Designer Awards to judges (from left) Doris De Pont, Margarita Robertson, Tanya Carlson, Doris Raymond (obscured) and Carolyn Enting. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery
Lines of impossibly slim and remarkably tall models marched in with each designer, either quietly in soft shoes or with a military click in high shoes on the polished wood.

Jorge Alfaro, a graduate of Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design in Auckland, told the judges about the organic nature of the materials he used, and the way he worked on the seams connecting the different materials.

Plenty of the designers were Australians. A full 17 of the 28 chosen to show creations at tonight's show - the spectacle that seemingly everyone at events this week have been waiting with bated breath - are from across the Tasman.

Vanessa Emirian, a graduate of the University of Technology Sydney, has a thing about circles and ''built architectural shapes''.

With polka-dot motifs and hand-cut dots, her pink creations inspired the judges to say ''wow' more than once.

Ms Carlson said judges were looking for references from the world of architecture or art.

''We don't want to see copies of something that was happening in Paris six months ago.

''Originality is what we're looking for.''

On the encouraging nature of the judging panel, she said some of the designers were ''really nervous''.

''Someone of Doris Raymond's stature is a little bit intimidating, when she is, on a daily basis, mixing with some of the best designers in the world.''

For the record, while the Otago Daily Times watched the event, Raymond, like the other judges, was nice as pie.

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