Yesterday, 94 entries in the iD International Emerging Designer Awards were ruthlessly cut back by sharp-eyed fashion types to just 30 who will get the chance to strut.
And be warned - black is not the new black.
Dunedin fashion designers Margi Robertson and Tanya Carlson, along with Auckland fashion industry professional Des Rusk, spent yesterday selecting designers for the show.
Submissions came from as far afield as London and Slovakia, as well as from New Zealand, with strong input from the Australians for the April 2015 event, including entries from more than 20 fashion design schools.
And the quality was ''extremely strong''.
Ms Robertson said the five hours of selection work for the three selectors went smoothly - mostly.
There were many more entries than could be chosen for the final 30.
''That's the tricky part.''
Mr Rusk said the entries made for ''overall, a strong year'', with a diverse range of designs, but no common theme.
There was plenty of fabric development, Miss Carlson said, and a lot of colour - but not a lot of black.iD production manager Amanda Milne said entrants would be contacted with the result and registration would begin.
