AUT fashion student Jann Wong has been announced as the recipient of the Deutz Fashion Design Ambassador Award for 2007. As part of her prize, Wong will attend next year's London Fashion Week (with $3000 spending money) to meet and work with designers and leaders from London's vibrant fashion industry. "Wong's entry was very strong all round," says judge Kate Sylvester. "Original, directional and beautifully made, it's a complex collection that continued to impress us more as we explored it."AUT fashion student Jann Wong has been announced as the recipient of the Deutz Fashion Design Ambassador Award for 2007. As part of her prize, Wong will attend next year's London Fashion Week (with $3000 spending money) to meet and work with designers and leaders from London's vibrant fashion industry. "Wong's entry was very strong all round," says judge Kate Sylvester. "Original, directional and beautifully made, it's a complex collection that continued to impress us more as we explored it."Amongst a formidable field of catwalk finalists, Wong's Untitled collection for Winter 2008 stood out for its cohesive design, attention to detail and impeccable finish. Drawing comparisons to the easy-but-technical approach of designers like Stella McCartney and Josh Goot, the collection thrilled the judges with its complicated and innovative approach to draping.

The overall placings in the Deutz Fashion Design Ambassador Awards for 2007 are:

Deutz Fashion Design Ambassador - Jann Wong
First runner up - Yawen Chang
Second runner up - Andrew Smith

This year's judging panel included Fashion Quarterly and Runway Reporter editor-at-large Stacy Gregg, fashion designer Kate Sylvester, television personality Petra Bagust, fashion designer Cybele Wiren and Sunday Star-Times fashion and beauty editor Katie Newton.

As well as creating winning collections, selected finalists were called upon to impress the judges in person during in-depth interviews.

"Not only is Jann a very talented designer, but she is confident, articulate and very committed to our industry," says Sylvester.

"Winning this award offers me the opportunity to travel, observe and work with people at a level that I aspire to," says Wong. "It is a prestigious and well-recognised award which has inspired me to create a body of work that I am proud of."

In addition to the awards show presentation, all of the finalists' collections will be modelled in a special catwalk showcase at Air New Zealand Fashion Week. The top-placed garments will also be on display at The New Dowse in Lower Hutt throughout October, as part of Flash! - The Deutz International Fashion Season.

20/9/07