iD to showcase cutting edge fashion

MEDIA RELEASE – Tuesday 6 December 2011

iD to showcase cutting edge fashion

Models clad in futuristic three dimensional PVC garments, outfits made from fabric waste and hand-made metal sequins, are just some of the innovative graduate designs showing at next year’s iD Dunedin Fashion Week.

Five stand-out fashion graduate collections from the Otago Polytechnic School of Design have been selected from a field of 24 to launch their fashion careers at the 2012 iD Dunedin Fashion Show on Friday 30 March and Saturday 31 March 2012.

Fiona Clements, 31 (Dunedin), Molly Barrington, 21 (Christchurch), Grace Averis, 24 (Christchurch), Jojo Ross, 22 (Queenstown) and Phillip Hawkins, 21 (Australia) will showcase their final-year collections alongside high-profile New Zealand fashion designers, and emerging international and new generation designers. Since 2002, the event has included a special section for graduate designers – attracting top talent from Dunedin’s prestigious fashion school.

Margi Robertson, creative director of Nom*D and external moderator, says it is wonderful to see commercial possibilities in the graduate collections with some garments almost “store ready”.

“These final year graduates are using this platform as their last opportunity to express their absolute creativity before they enter the ‘real world’ of fashion design. As a prospective employer, showcasing a collection with originality is essential, but the garments need to be constructed in such a way that there is an element of commercial appeal.”

Margo Barton, Otago Polytechnic’s School of Design academic leader and principal lecturer (Fashion) says it’s really exciting to see directional graduate collections alongside an innovative use of new technologies in fashion design.

“The future of fashion is in good hands. These stand-out collections embrace technology, using metal, plastic, wood, laser etching and sustainable pattern cutting. It shows the public what they can expect from fashion in the future and the depth and breadth of fashion design talent coming out of the Otago Polytechnic,” says Margo.

The five 2012 graduates join a proud history of graduate collections at iD, with many talented newcomers going on to high flying fashion careers. Anjali Stewart (2005) is now designer and partner with popular label twenty-seven names; Charmaine Reveley (2002), now manages her own successful label; Tara Viggo (2005), is working for British fashion designer Giles Deacon in London; and, most recently, Amelia Boland (2011) showed her graduate collection at Nolcha Fashion Week in New York.

The graduate selection panel was comprised of: Tim Pollock (Dunedin Public Art Gallery), Margi Robertson, (Nom*D) and Charmaine Reveley (fashion designer).

Watch out for more information on the 2012 iD Dunedin Fashion Week including details of show line-up, International Emerging Designer Awards finalists, special guest designers, judges, VIPs and release dates for ticket sales.

ENDS