Offshore iD entries swell

The iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards continue to grow in international significance, with more than 120 entries received from fashion students from 19 countries for next year's event - up from 11 countries this year.

From the 120 entries this year, 31 finalists have been chosen from 10 countries: Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, Germany, the Netherlands, Croatia, Switzerland, Japan, Sweden and New Zealand.

The Emerging Designer Awards were first held in 2004 as a chance for new designers to show their wares on an international stage.

Fashion adviser and emerging designer judge Ross Gamble said he was overwhelmed by the number and calibre of the entries; it was the greatest diversity of international emerging designers yet.

"It's outstanding that the designers we are attracting represent so many world-class design schools. There is no other event in New Zealand that shows such a high calibre of emerging fashion design talent," he said.

At next year's event, to be held on Thursday, March 11, at Dunedin's Lion Foundation Arena, there will also be a new jewellery section, with four designers chosen to display.

The prizes for the event are $5000 for first place, $3000 for second and $1000 for third.

A travel prize for an emerging designer will also be awarded.

The winning collections will also be a part of the main show at the Dunedin Railway Station, to be held on both Friday 12 and Saturday, March 13.

Finalists:
New Zealand: Auckland University of Technology, Glenn Yungnickel and Sandra Tupu; Massey University, Alexandra Walker; Otago Polytechnic, Laura Marshall, Melanie Child, Roxanna Zamani, Siobhan Moroney and Sophie Hardy; Whitecliffe College of Art and Design, Brooke Fairgray and Lan Yu.
Australia: Fashion Design Studio Ultimo TAFE, Sydney, Sam Hazelton.
Britain: Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, Kathleen Kye and Hae Sung Bong; London College of Fashion, Ichiro Suzuki; Nottingham Trent University, Tahlia Goodwin; Royal College of Art, London, Charlie Ross and Robert Huth.
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Daphney Pui Yan Ho, Kwok Kei Ng, Tsz Fung Kwok and Wong Kwai Ching.
Germany: Akademie Mode und Design, Munich, Irene Luft.
The Netherlands: ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Arnhem, Hellen van Rees.
Croatia: Faculty of Textile Design, Zagreb, Igor Galas.
Switzerland: Institut of Fashion Design, Basel, Laura Clausen.
Japan: Sugino Fashion College, Tokyo, Ryota Shiga.
Sweden: Swedish School of Textiles, Boras, Emelie Johansson.

Jewellery finalists:
New Zealand: Auckland University of Technology, Lan Ching Fu; Otago Polytechnic School of Art, Anne-Mieke Ytsma and Debbie Adamson.
Australia: Queensland University of Technology, Paula Kyle Walden.