Otago Polytechnic bachelor of design (fashion) graduate Phillip Hawkins and third-year students Sam Ralph and Soohee Moon are the only finalists from the South Island.
All three were first-time entrants. Each submitted three outfits from collections they created for the Dunedin polytechnic course.
Mr Hawkins (22) graduated with distinction last year and entered garments from his final collection, The Last, inspired by images of abandoned modernist concrete monuments in desolate parts of Eastern Europe.
The womenswear featured metal hand-cut from aluminium sheets as well as silk and had a "romantic Gothic feel", he said.
"For all of us, it's really great to be chosen as a finalist. It gives us a lot of confidence that we are on the right track. The fashion industry here is so nurturing. It's a great place to be in the early stages of your career because everyone's so supportive."
Mr Ralph (21) entered garments from his pre-graduate collection, Red, which merged elements of traditional farm clothing and the paintings of the late Russian artist Mark Rothko.
He used merino wool and organic cotton as well as vinyl and hand-painted fabric in the Rothko style.
Mr Ralph grew up on a Southland dairy farm and said he wanted to challenge typical notions of menswear.
"The collection has an androgynous feel, which is why one of my models is a woman despite it being menswear."
Ms Moon's womenswear collection, Structure Meets Drape in Colour, juxtaposed deer hide with silk and featured neon orange, yellow and green.
The 33-year-old liked to incorporate texture in her garments, which were shown at this year's Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.
The top three designers will be announced on August 22. Their collections will be shown on September 7 in Auckland, where the winner will be announced.
