Dylan bound for bright lights of London

Otago Polytechnic Fashion Design graduate Dylan McCutcheon-Peat is packing his bags — along with a whole bunch of clothes, of course — and heading to the prestigious Graduate Fashion Week in London.

Dylan has added a few designs to his collection, Is he a Tomgirl?, which featured alongside work by 45 other designers from around the world at the Emerging Designers’ Show at iD Fashion Week in Dunedin earlier this month.

Dylan says the London event, which begins on 3 June, will be the highlight of his career to date.

“I only graduated last year. I did iD a few weeks ago and that was really big, but this is a whole new level.

“As soon as I get off the plane, I’ll go straight to the venue and drop off my garments. I didn’t want to take the risk of couriering them.”

Dylan, who developed the collection last year as part of his final year of a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at Otago Polytechnic, says he aims to encourage different perceptions of masculinity.

“It is about making people aware there can also be a fragility to the notion of masculinity. And by using elements of lingerie within the collection, I make it very visible.

“Everything also has a very tailored aspect to it. The idea is to use tradition to break with tradition.”

Dr Margot Barton, Otago Polytechnic Head of Fashion, says Otago Polytechnic is the only institution in New Zealand to have been invited to show in London.

“It’s very exciting. We are supporting Dylan by paying for his registration. Being right there, getting that international exposure, is so important.”

Dylan, who also received financial support from Otago Polytechnic’s Education Foundation, will be accompanied by fellow Otago Polytechnic Fashion Design graduate Ariane Bray, who is “lending a hand”. The pair will spend three or four months travelling through Europe before returning to Dunedin.

However, Dylan is unlikely to remain in Dunedin for long. He has plans to move to Melbourne and set up a bespoke design business.

“Since graduating I’ve had a fashion design studio in Dunedin, making stuff for people. I plan to do the same in Melbourne.”

Read more about Graduate Fashion Week

Read more about Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Design (Fashion)