Stellar judging panel for iD International Emerging Designer Awards

iD Dunedin Fashion Week has announced a stellar designer judging panel for the 2019 iD International Emerging Designer Awards.

The iD Emerging Designer Show – for graduates with up to five years experience – celebrates its 15^th year in 2019.

In recognition of the contribution the award has made to New Zealand fashion design, organisers have announced an esteemed panel of New Zealand judges, all of whom are of international renown. Head judge Tanya Carlson will be joined by designers Kate Sylvester, Margi Robertson of Nom’D, and Benny Castles of WORLD, who has become known by many as a judge on Project Runway NZ.      

Next year marks 20 years of iD Dunedin Fashion Week. 

For the first time, iD International Emerging Designers will present at the designer runway show, meaning young designers will have their innovative collections featured in one half of the show, with the other half of the show dedicated to established local and New Zealand designers.

The shows are being held for the first time at Dunedin’s beautiful Regent Theatre on Friday 15 March and Saturday 16 March 2019.

Co-Chair and Creative Director of iD, Barton says: “Being selected as a finalist in the iD International Emerging Designer is potentially a life-changing opportunity for aspiring designers and recent graduates to gain experience and build networks within the fashion industry.”

Since 2004 iD International Emerging Designer has showcased incredible design talent and launched world-class careers with fashion houses including Benetton Sisley, Vivienne Westwood and Burberry. 

Abby van Schreven, co-owner of prominent New Zealand fashion brand Maaike, was a finalist in the first iD International Emerging Fashion Design Awards in 2006, showing her graduate collection as an Otago Polytechnic Fashion Design student.

Abby says being a finalist gave her confidence in her abilities as a designer early on in her career.

“Getting that recognition and chance to show on a global platform like the Emerging Designer Awards was pretty amazing. I was only young (20) and getting that validation that my ideas are good was really cool. It made me think, ‘Oh yeah, I can do this’.”

The 15th annual iD International Emerging Designer show is presented in partnership with Otago Polytechnic. The iD Dunedin Fashion committee values the ongoing support offered by Otago Polytechnic in recognising and developing emerging generations of fashion industry leaders. 

Tickets for iD Dunedin Fashion Week will be available through Ticket Direct from Saturday 1st December.

The deadline for applications for the 2019 iD International Emerging Designer is 30 November 2018.  Apply now