Bachelor of design (fashion) graduates Jonty Blakely, Amelia Phillips, Taylor Pumphrey, Ethan Cruise, Ellen Ross and Russelle Tino showed at the NZFW Graduate Show, held at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland last night.
In addition, Francesca Flynn and Sofia Heke will take part in Go Media Miromoda 2023, part of fashion week.
"I’m thrilled to have so many graduates showing at New Zealand Fashion Week," Otago Polytechnic head of fashion Dr Margo Barton said.
"I’m really happy to be supporting some of our graduates from 2020, 2021 and 2022.
"And I’m obviously also thrilled that NZFW is resuming after a Covid-enforced break."
Previously, only three Otago Polytechnic designers were showcased at NZFW.
However, the resumption of the event prompted Dr Barton and her fashion design team to make a special request to include more designers, albeit showing fewer outfits.
With the proposal accepted, Dr Barton and her team contacted graduates who had been selected to show at NZFW in 2021 and 2022 to see if they were still interested in being involved in the event.
"Some were unable to commit because of work or travel. So our shortlist was widened to include students previously selected by an independent panel to show at iD Dunedin’s Railway Show.
"It was difficult to narrow it down to six.
"We also recommended two of our top graduates, Sofia Heke (2021-22) and Francesca Flynn (2022), for the Miromoda show. I am delighted they were both selected."
Since introducing a graduate show in 2016, New Zealand Fashion Week has been a great springboard for many designers.
