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.