Fashion and fashionable cities

ID fashion show at the Dunedin Railway Station on Friday evening. Photo by ODT.
ID fashion show at the Dunedin Railway Station on Friday evening. Photo by ODT.
The excitement of the 15th iD Dunedin Fashion Week (iD Fashion Show in its first five years) is over and organisers, contributors, workers, sponsors and volunteers - as well as Dunedin itself - should take a moment to revel in its success.

Such events only thrive through ambition, drive, skill and hard work. That deserves to be acknowledged. Chairwoman Susie Staley and the team are doing a fine job.

The prime focus for the week is always the fashion shows along the Dunedin Railway Station platform.

This is where the elegance of the old and innovation of the new are juxtaposed, where a distinctive setting provides a point of difference.

Another highlight drawing capacity audiences is the iD International Emerging Designer Awards, held at the town hall and now in their 10th year.

The international flavour was illustrated in the origins of those who were most successful this year.

The winner was Teheran-born and lives in Milan, and second place went to a Melbourne designer.

An Indian from Kolkata was offered an internship in Paris.

These are but two of the 30 events, exhibitions, presentations and parties.

It has been all go, and Dunedin has been abuzz.

Figures will be calculated for the economic impact of visitors, and exposure for the week in magazines, newspapers and on television around New Zealand and beyond will be noted.

That is well and good and helps the city's image - it is more than home to a fantastic university and can host successful events other than high-profile rugby matches.

Dunedin is more and more in danger of being marginalised as that small city in the ''Deep South'' that doesn't really matter any more.

Anything that counters that impression is worthwhile.

Perhaps, though, the greatest impact is for Dunedin people themselves.

Many will feel good about their city, their home and the fact it can host such shows.

Many will have attended at least one of the week's occasions and have felt both enjoyment and pride.

If Dunedin is going to retain and attract creative people and creative industries it needs to be where such people want to live.

Its scenery, its wildlife, its proximity to Central Otago, its architecture, its university, its arts culture, its outdoor opportunities, its market, its affordability - all these and more are reasons to live in the city.

Although all of the above underpins popularity and perception, there are also intangibles which come and go - just as trends in fashion itself change.

Image in all spheres of life is highly susceptible to what is fashionable, not just to substance.

It is here the week helps establish in the minds and hearts of Dunedin residents the fact the city fosters creativity and interesting events; that it is a place where people want to live, work and retire; that it is a fashionable city.

Bridges to the future

The South Island is sliced by big rivers which have always ruled the lives of its inhabitants.

These days, when basic infrastructure is in place and air travel ubiquitous, it is easy to forget just how important these links are.

Drive from Balclutha to Christchurch and several major rivers must be crossed. Should a bridge be out, huge detours often might be required.

It was also only last January that South Westland was cut off for weeks by a broken bridge near Hokitika, causing severe disruption.

The people of Kurow and districts know this only too well.

Their link across the Waitaki and to, in particular, the Hakataramea Valley, has been via two rickety single-lane structures long past their natural life.

After many years and much lobbying, they are being replaced by twin two-lane structures with a cycleway at a cost of about $21 million.

The first was officially opened before big crowds and much fanfare last Friday and should be in use this week.

The opening is welcome: it is a long way down river to the next crossing at Glenavy.

Such basic links are vital for access, communications and a prosperous future for the area.

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