The iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards new jewellery design section seeks original and innovative submissions.

The organising committee of this iconic fashion event has made a commitment to next year’s fashion week. The 2010 iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards, held in New Zealand are now open for applications from around the world, with an exciting new jewellery design section.

The iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards new jewellery design section seeks original and innovative submissions.

The organising committee of this iconic fashion event has made a commitment to next year’s fashion week. The 2010 iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards, held in New Zealand are now open for applications from around the world, with an exciting new jewellery design section.

Key Points:

• The iD Emerging Designer Awards, now in their sixth year have established a reputation as a launchpad for cutting-edge local and international fashion design talent. This event attracts emerging designers from across the globe, allowing them to gain invaluable experience in what is perhaps their first professional event.

• Bringing a new dimension to the Emerging Designer Awards, a jewellery design section has been created.

• A number of sponsorship opportunities still exist for potential sponsors to come forward and become part of iD Dunedin Fashion Week. The organising committee is still urgently seeking funding to support the 2010 event.

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

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

• Applications must be received by Friday 27 November.

• Since the Emerging Designer Awards show was launched in 2005, three designers have gone on to win prizes at Mittelmoda in Italy. 2008 Emerging Designer Awards winner Sophie Russo, from Australia won a prize for her collection which best demonstrated the characteristics of wool; and participants from 2006 Shola Steele, (from New Zealand) and 2007 Sam Fisher, (from Australia) have also gone on to win prizes at Mittelmoda.

• The iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards show will take place on Thursday 11 March.

• 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

"The Emerging Designer Awards continue to attract applicants from a number of the leading fashion schools internationally, including the UK, Italy, Israel, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Each year we see a quantum leap in terms of innovation and quality, reflecting the calibre of the applicants and the competitive nature of this event. This event is an opportunity for emerging designers to gain invaluable experience, helping to further develop their design careers and life experiences."

Sophie Russo – 2008 iD Emerging Designer Awards and Mittelmoda Special Prize Winner

"I've been working full-time at Sass and Bide for almost a year now as an Assistant Designer and absolutely love my job! The iD Emerging Designer Awards were a real launch pad for me to get my foot in the door of the fashion industry. Working up to London Fashion Week recently was a real buzz! I am finally doing what I love in a creative and fashion-forward company that is prestigious and successful both domestically and internationally."

Victoria Bunton – Event Co-ordinator www.id-dunedinfashion.com

"The new jewellery section has been added to the Emerging Designers Awards to introduce emerging jewellery designers to the event. We felt that it was important to bring in a jewellery section as it compliments the fashion design aspect of the event and will add a different dimension to the competition."

Ends

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 +64 27 20 20 903 email: merrin.bath@strategyfirst.co.nz

About iD Dunedin Fashion Week – 8-14 March 2010, 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.

A boutique fashion show hosted on the platform of the city’s captivating Railway Station offers a glamourous, world-class night out celebrating the best of Dunedin, New Zealand and emerging world fashion.

In 2009, tickets for the Southern Trust iD Dunedin Fashion show sold in 3 hours to a capacity audience of 1600 people. Twenty-three high profile labels including guest designer WORLD, emerging and talented young designers kept the audience on the edge of their seats during the show.

More than 100 entries from 11 countries were received for the 2009 Southern Trust 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

Contact: Merrin Bath +64 27 20 20 903 email: merrin.bath@strategyfirst.co.nz