Emerging New Zealand fashion designer Shola Steele is creating a stir in London and Italy

The Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Design (Fashion) graduate was New Zealand's only representative at the prestigious Italian fashion festival 'Mitellmoda' this September, and was named as the first of the 2006 prizewinners before she even left the country (receiving a full page spread in French magazine 'Clam').Emerging New Zealand fashion designer Shola Steele is creating a stir in London and Italy

The Otago Polytechnic Bachelor of Design (Fashion) graduate was New Zealand's only representative at the prestigious Italian fashion festival 'Mitellmoda' this September, and was named as the first of the 2006 prizewinners before she even left the country (receiving a full page spread in French magazine 'Clam').She has now been offered a two-year internship by Benetton's Sisley brand. The internship is based in Treviso, Italy and includes Italian language lessons, accommodation and salary.

Gaining work experience in Europe was Shola's primary goal after attending the Mittelmoda Festival.

"I'd secretly wanted to do fashion design since I was young," she says. "People always look up to actors and musicians with awe - I was like that with fashion designers."

Over the course of her degree Shola won prizes at the Hokonui Fashion Awards, received the Otago Polytechnic Technical Excellence Award and was named third runner up in the 2005 Fashion Quarterly Young Designer of the Year competition. She was also twice selected for the Emerging Designers category of Dunedin's highly-regarded Vodafone ID Fashion Show.

It was her third-year collection, inspired by the androgynous yet feminine style of Marlene Dietrich, that won her a place at the Mitellmoda Festival; a proven launch-pad for young designers from around the world. Only 28 finalists from 18 countries have the chance to present their collections to an international jury each year.

"This is a great result for everyone in the Fashion School, the Design Department, the Otago Polytechnic and New Zealand!" says Head of Department - Design at Otago Polytechnic Alistair Regan. "Shola has created a wonderful show and fully deserves the accolades."

"It is really great to see these results, showing once again that the standard of Fashion Design at Otago Polytechnic is comparable to the best design schools in the world."