Six student fashion designers are set to get an early career boost, after being picked to have their garments shown at the iD Dunedin Fashion Week show at the railway station next year.
The six graduates of the Otago Polytechnic School of Design were selected from a field of 22 who displayed their designs at the Collections 15 runway show late last week.
One of the six, Joseph Hollebon, said he learned two days ago he had been chosen.
''I didn't quite believe it,'' Mr Hollebon said.
''I was constantly waiting for them to rescind the offer.''
That did not happen, however, and his garments, which he described as Japanese-inspired ''stripped back minimal'' would show as he embarked on his honours year, specialising in pattern making.
He intended to develop his skills in that area before starting his own label.
Andrea Short, who showed at the Shanghai Fashion Week in October, designed handmade lace and rusted fabrics, telling a story about time and decay.
''All my designs tell stories,'' she said.
Ms Short said she was ''really surprised'' to be selected.
''I'm really excited. I had no idea that was going to happen.''
She also intended to do an honours year.
Former graduates picked to show at the event include Duncan Chambers-Watson, who won a spot on this year's Project Runway reality television series, and Daniel Kwok, who has launched his own label.
Selector Sara Munro, Dunedin-based fashion designer of Company of Strangers, said the collections from the graduates were ''cohesive, commercial-ready brands that were fantastic on the catwalk''.
