Competition Hotting Up As Finalists Announced
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Competition Hotting Up As
Finalists Announced for DHL Fashion Export Award
Auckland, 8 November 2012 - Three of New
Zealand’s top emerging fashion exporters are a step closer
to winning the highly coveted DHL Express Fashion Export
Scholarship following an announcement today.
The competition was tougher than ever this year with online only exporters being eligible for the first time. However the star cast of judges that included iconic designer Kate Sylvester, entrepreneur Erica Crawford, fashion commentator Carolyn Enting, DHL’s Megan Wildermoth and Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) Chairman Paul Blomfield are pleased to announce the following:
The 2012 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship finalists are (in alphabetical order):
• I Love Ugly, (Auckland)
www.iloveugly.net
• Ingrid
Starnes, designer Ingrid Starnes (Auckland)
www.ingridstarnes.com
• Kowtow,
designer Gosia Piatek (Wellington)
www.kowtowclothing.com
The
winning scholarship package includes international freight
to the value of NZ$10,000, coaching in freight and logistics
from DHL Express, a tailored export mentoring package from
Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) and an annual FINZ
membership.
Fashion designers from around New Zealand were invited to submit a design portfolio together with their formal application and were judged last week by fashion and exporting industry leaders. It is the first year that online only exporters were included in the competition.
“Fashion is an important sector of New Zealand’s export market and through the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship we’ll continue to support this industry and help grow its success,” says Megan Wildermoth, national strategic account manager (fashion and textiles) at DHL Express New Zealand.
“DHL Express opened the scholarship to online only exporters for the first time this year in recognition of the importance of online export as a channel to market. We were delighted with the calibre of entrants but the chosen three are impressive in the New Zealand fashion scene and have demonstrated strong export potential in terms of design and strategy,” adds Megan Wildermoth.
This is what all the judges had to say about the finalists:
I Love Ugly
“I Love Ugly has a strong and strategic online presence that compliments traditional retail and this will allow them to expand. Their range is easy, very sell-able online and they offer the full range of products in the men’s wear range. They have a great vision, they know exactly what they want, what they have to do to achieve it and already have a fan base amongst its target market.”
Ingrid Starnes
“Ingrid Starnes has a complete collection that’s
beautifully put together with a lot of style. She has a very
strong design aesthetic that is very well supported
domestically. With her business foundations already in place
and a clear export strategy, she has the potential to really
take off in export markets.”
www.ingridstarnes.com
Kowtow
“Kowtow has a distinctive point of difference with
their sustainability angle and that provides them with great
opportunities globally. The designer Gosia has a clear
export strategy with plenty of room to expand. Her design
aesthetic is timeless, ageless and has an enduring quality
the means it will last more than one season. Gosia has
exhibited some real depth to the Kowtow brand.”
www.kowtowclothing.com
The winner of the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship will be announced at an awards event and fashion installation at 6.30pm on Tuesday 13 November in Auckland.
--
About the DHL
Express Fashion Export Scholarship
The scholarship
was developed as a joint initiative between DHL and Fashion
Industry New Zealand (FINZ) in 2008. DHL went on to launch
the programme in Australia in 2010.
DHL – The
Logistics company for the world
DHL is the global
market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics
company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in
international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail
transportation, contract logistics and international mail
services to its customers. A global network composed of more
than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000
employees worldwide offers customers superior service
quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain
requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by
supporting climate protection, disaster management and
education.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of 53 billion euros in 2011.
Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ)
FINZ is the voice of New Zealand’s fashion
and apparel industry. Established in 2002, the non-profit
organisation was founded by the industry to provide
professional representation and support for the industry.
“Our mission is to ensure the future growth and
development of the fashion and apparel industry. And, to see
it valued for its economic, creative and cultural
contribution to New Zealand.”
www.finz.co.nz
Click for big version.
Gosia Piatek
Ingrid profile
Click for big version.
I Love Ugly editorial
ENDS