FASHION on national stage
ID Dunedin’s first taste of the bright lights of Auckland will also be a step back into the past — the organisers’ debut show at New Zealand Fashion Week includes pieces from past emerging designers.
The city’s annual fashion week has been running for 19 years, but no show has been taken to the national event.
iD Dunedin Fashion Week committee chairwoman and Otago Polytechnic design lecturer Margo Barton said it was ‘‘really brilliant’’ to finally be involved.
Fashion week runs from from August 27 to September 2.
It was hoped the show would raise the profile of iD Dunedin Fashion Week ahead of its 20th birthday next year.
‘‘We have some great designers confirmed, which is fantastic,’’ Prof Barton said.
‘‘It will be such an exciting show. I’m very happy to be doing it.’’
Collections from past emerging designer awards at iD Dunedin will be displayed in a 20minute show on September 1, as part of the New Zealand Fashion Week weekend, along with present collections from Dunedin designers including NomD, Darlene Gore, Tanya Carlson and MildRed will be included.
It was encouraging iD Fashion had a face at the weekend, which was geared towards the public rather than the industry, Prof Barton said.
The first emerging designers awards were launched at the city’s fashion week in 2005.
Former finalists whose work would feature included Jennifer Hughson, who now had her own label, Pansy Couture, and specialised in bridal clothes and oneoff pieces.
A finalist of the Emerging Designers Awards back in 2009, she was showing a selection of Vaudevilleinspired clothes complete with lace, tartan designs and headpieces.
Ms Hughson said the collection ‘‘symbolised the beginning of the things that I like to make’’.
‘‘It was really nice to dust it out of the wardrobe.’’