The garments and the body form going into the exhibition case yesterday are called Hine Te Wai, and will remain on display for a year, linked to the latest iD Dunedin Fashion Week, which starts on Tuesday.
The ensemble is part of the Te Ao Marama collection that was shown by Ms Bridgman as part of the Melbourne Fashion Festival, in Australia last year.
The collection features traditional garments fashioned into contemporary design using feathers, hand-printed silks and hand-woven natural fibres.
Having been selected to feature in the design case was an honour, Ms Bridgman said yesterday.
This "unique and special" outcome had encouraged her, and would provide further exposure and "profile" for her fashion work.
"I do feel happy. It's quite exciting," Ms Bridgman said.
Museum public programmes developer and contemporary design exhibit curator Rua McCallum said it was the first time the annual display had featured work by a Ngai Tahu designer.
Ms Bridgman's label is called Kahuwai, and she is one of three Ngai Tahu designers who will show their collections at a fashion parade, titled "Toitu te awa Toitu te whenua Toitu nga wahine" at the museum, on Tuesday evening.
The other designers are Fiona Clements and Darlene Gore.
