DHL Express Awards Fashion Designers with Top Export Scholarship

Auckland, 06 December, 2010 – The designers of Kiwi fashion label Twenty Seven Names have been awarded with the $10,000 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship for 2010, and are set to make an impact on the global fashion market.

DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, announced the designers behind Twenty Seven Names, Anjali Stewart and Rachel Easting, as the winners of the 2010 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship at an event in Auckland today, establishing them as New Zealand’s top emerging fashion exporters.

The scholarship, in its third year, was open to New Zealand fashion designers who have been selling offshore for less than four years. Applicants were asked to submit a design portfolio and key trading figures, as well as an export and marketing strategy for the next 12 months.

Linda Turner, Strategic Account Manager – Fashion, DHL Express New Zealand says, “Twenty Seven Names presented an impressive submission. They have a focused strategy, and a particularly impressive exporting portfolio, with strong growth in Australia, and emerging growth in Hong Kong and the US. The DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship aims to help Twenty Seven Names achieve even more success overseas, and create a platform for them to expand into different markets.”

“DHL Express is proud to support the winner of the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship in achieving international growth with a prize package that includes freight to the value of NZ$10,000 and coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express. They will also receive an individually tailored export mentoring package from Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) and an annual FINZ membership.

“We can’t wait to start working with Twenty Seven Names and help them grow their business internationally.”

Anjali Stewart of Twenty Seven Names says, “We are so happy to have been awarded the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship today, and we are very excited to start working with DHL Express to help expand our brand further internationally. I am most excited about the mentoring we will be receiving as it is going to be a huge help - I can’t wait to see where it takes.”

Kate Sylvester, one of the judges of the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship, says, “I’ve followed the careers of the designers at Twenty Seven Names with interest. They have a very unique voice in the New Zealand fashion industry, and were the strongest designers who entered into the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship for 2010. Their overall strategy is focused, strong and the most exciting; they have loads of potential.”

Mapihi Opai, Executive Officer of FINZ, who was also a member of the judging panel, commented, “Twenty Seven Names demonstrated great export potential across all three categories; design, strategy and financial performance. Anjali and Rachel are extremely talented and focused, which is clearly reflected in the design, branding and promotion of the label. Their marketing initiatives and international media coverage to date are hugely impressive. And, their export strategy showed real commitment to growing the brand internationally.”

The scholarship was judged by four of New Zealand’s top fashion and exporting industry leaders: Kate Sylvester, one of New Zealand’s most respected fashion designers; Erica Crawford, co-founder of the iconic export brand, Kim Crawford Wines; Mapihi Opai, Executive Officer of FINZ; and Linda Turner, Strategic Account Manager - Fashion, DHL Express New Zealand.

The finalists for the 2010 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship included Salasai, Twenty Seven Names and Blak Luxe.

Erica Crawford of Kim Crawford Wines was impressed with the quality of the finalists for this year’s scholarship and is confident that the future of New Zealand’s fashion industry is in capable hands.

“The designers that entered this year’s scholarship are all very promising. Salasai, Twenty Seven Names and Blak Luxe each show a mixture of creativity, business savvy and focused strategies. Their international reach at present is impressive, and I look forward to seeing their international growth over the coming years – I think they all have great futures ahead of them. ”

DHL is committed to its partnership with the fashion industry in New Zealand and recognises it as an important export sector. DHL provides extensive express services to New Zealand’s leading designers including products tailored specifically to the apparel industry and the requirements of this dynamic market.

The DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship presents an invaluable opportunity for emerging fashion exporters to help grow their businesses internationally and DHL looks forward to continuing this support in the future.

DHL Express thanks MAC Cosmetics, Servilles Ponsonby, Nova Models and Lisa Gladkova Photography who were involved in today’s event.

ENDS

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