Kiwi Hair Designer Wins International Award

New Zealand hair designer Iain Smith has been named Sebastian Designer of the Year after blitzing four other finalists from Canada, USA and Mexico in the competition’s national final held in Los Angeles on Monday.

Iain, director of Servilles Mission Bay in Auckland, had to reproduce the successful creations he originally submitted and was judged live in three competition categories Wash and Wear, Ready to Wear and Couture.

Sebastian New Zealand general manager Jim Matson says Iain’s victory is an exciting professional boost for him and a thrilling leap for the local hair industry.

“Sebastian is absolutely overjoyed for Iain! The competition is extremely prestigious and really propels New Zealand on the international stage, making the hair industry around the globe sit up and take notice of what is being produced here,” he says.

Iain’s win earns him a return flight to LA in May to work with the Sebastian Artistic Team producing the Sebastian Collection for Fall/ Winter 2001 and his winning hairstyles showcased in Modern Salon magazine with a six-page feature.

But Iain’s ultimate accolade will be to have his cut technique named after him and entered into Sebastian’s portfolio to be taught throughout the world.

More than 80 entries were received from around the globe for the 2001 Sebastian Designer of the Year Competition and as part of the initial submission entrants had to supply photos of their creations in all three categories from just one hair cut.

Sebastian leads the way internationally in hair and beauty innovation, developing the Designer of the Year Competition to showcase hair designer’s all-round brilliance and raw talent on the international stage, demonstrating its commitment to fostering this eminent design industry.

Released on behalf of Sebastian International by Porter Novelli New Zealand.

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