Are you an innovative emerging fashion designer? The 2011 iD International Emerging Designer Awards is now open for entries and will take place in Dunedin on Thursday, 7 April.

Are you an innovative emerging fashion designer? The 2011 iD International Emerging Designer Awards is now open for entries and will take place in Dunedin on Thursday, 7 April. Emerging designers are encouraged to submit an application and compete in this established international fashion competition against entrants from the world’s most prestigious fashion schools.    

Key Points:

The 2011 Awards, now in its seventh year, provide an international platform for rising local and international fashion design talent. Each year, entries are received from across the globe, providing finalists with a world class opportunity to network, showcase their cutting edge collections and gain priceless professional fashion show experience. Following its success at the 2010 event, the jewellery design section will feature again at the 2011 Awards. 

The iD International Emerging Designer Awards offer highly sought after prizes, including NZ$5000 for first place, $3000 for second and $1000 for third. Other special prizes are yet to be announced.

To enter the fashion awards, designers must be recent graduates (within the past five years) or final year students from a recognised Diploma, BDes, BA, MA Fashion, MA Jewellery or fashion related course.

Applications for all categories must be received by Friday 3 December, 2010 – visit www.id-dunedinfashion.com to download an entry form.

Since the iD Awards Show was first launched from a marquee in Dunedin’s Octagon in 2005, finalists have won prizes at international fashion competitions, including Mittelmoda and have gone onto show at Milan and New York Fashion Weeks.  Mittelmoda has offered a special prize of direct entry each year for finalists from 2005 onwards to their Italian fashion competition due to the high standard of design talent.

Watch out for further details to be announced: the iD Dunedin Fashion Show participating designers and special guests, Emerging Designer Awards finalists, judges, VIPs and release dates for ticket sales. 

Key quotes

Margo Barton, Academic Leader and Principal Lecturer (Fashion) School of Design, Otago Polytechnic 

“It’s so important for emerging fashion designers to get their name out there, gain exposure and differentiate themselves from other designers. It is fantastic that iD and the Otago community are able to offer this opportunity to local and international designers – and designers who visit iD Dunedin Fashion Week won’t forget the experience.  The calibre of talent attending is demonstrated by finalists who have gone onto secure employment in European fashion houses including: Benetton Sisley, Vivienne Westwood, Burberry and Sass and Bide in Australia.

Susie Staley – Chair of iD Fashion Committee www.id-dunedinfashion.com 

“This fashion competition is a standout for emerging fashion design talent from within New Zealand and abroad. The growing number of entries received from prestigious fashion schools each year reflects this. As always, funding is an issue. We welcome any interested parties to seize the opportunity to be part of a long-standing, successful week of public fashion events, the only one of its kind in New Zealand.”

Further Information

Sponsorship/event enquiries:

Victoria Bunton, Event Co-ordinator, Sequel Events, Ph +64 3 477 1092, Cell +64 21 990 040, email:  victoria@sequelevents.co.nz

Media enquiries:

Merrin Bath, Strategy First Ltd  +64 27 2020903 merrin.bath@strategyfirst.co.nz

About iD Dunedin Fashion Week, 5-10 April 2010 – Dunedin, New Zealand

iD Dunedin Fashion Week is the week the city comes alive to celebrate its distinct style, fashion identity and industry, with collaboration between the local fashion sector, the tertiary institutions and the supporting industries which allow the fashion sector to grow and evolve.

The 2010 iD Dunedin Fashion Show held over two nights on the platform of the city’s captivating Railway Station was attended by 3100 people and offers a glamourous, world-class night out celebrating the best of Dunedin, New Zealand and emerging world fashion.

Twenty-one high profile labels including international guest designer Zandra Rhodes accompanied by British sculptor and jeweller Andrew Logan, established and emerging designers kept the audience on the edge of their seats during the shows.

Over 120 entries from 19 countries were received for the 2010 iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards, with 31 finalists taking part.   More than 80 media representatives from New Zealand and Australia attended the fashion week and participated in the week long fashion activities.

For more information and event details visit www.id-dunedinfashion.com