NZ Fashion Week Influential Locally, Globally And Online

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Thursday 17th December 2015

New Zealand Fashion Week Influential Locally, Globally And Online

New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) closes another successful year with the announcement it has been selected as an official nominating body of the International Woolmark Prize – widely acknowledged as one of the most prestigious fashion awards in the world.

With the number of countries eligible to participate in the prize increasing from 21 to 63 in 2016, the existing Australia region has expanded to include New Zealand, in recognition of the creativity and talent emanating from this part of the globe.

NZFW joins IMG Australia and the Australian Fashion Chamber in the prestigious position of nominating emerging designers to compete for the award.

First launched in 1953, the International Woolmark Prize celebrates outstanding fashion talents from around the globe who showcase the beauty and versatility of Merino wool.

It was awarded to then--fledgling designers Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent in its second year (1954) -- illustrating just how entrenched and influential this award is for the global fashion community.

The distinction is just one example of the work NZFW managing director Dame Pieter Stewart does year--round to open doors for emerging New Zealand designers and strengthen the local fashion industry.

“The International Woolmark Prize offers an incredible advantage to New Zealand designers in terms of national and international exposure” says Stewart.

“It is an opportunity for the next generation of designers to make huge leaps on the international stage."

NZFW’s considerable influence closer to home is also evident with an independent evaluation from Fresh Info showing that the overall GDP contribution to Auckland was $1,196,00 in 2015 and attendee numbers increased by 12% YOY to 32,100.

These results affirm NZFW’s place as a key event in Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development’s Major Event Strategy.

Adding to the print, broadcast and online media buzz produced by this year’s event, the impact of the NZFW brand on partner exposure is apparent through the consumer launch of global accreditation brand Child Labor Free (CLF) -- a key NZFW partner for 2015 – who saw an enormous upsurge in both social media reach and results as a consequence of the partnership.

Following Child Labor Free’s consumer launch at NZFW, Child Labor Free’s social media reach increased by 476%[1].

The number of social media and news results also rose by 178%[2] in the time period between July and September, with NZFW falling in August -- a clear sign of the impact the association with the event created.

“The collaboration with NZFW was a powerful tool in helping us share our message with New Zealand.

It helped us access both local and international media and raise awareness within both the fashion industry and amongst New Zealand Fashion Weekend attendees”, acknowledges CLF Founder Nikki Prendergast.

A raft of well--known faces are set to grace the front rows next year with international media already expressing their interest in attending the event.

The NZFW team are currently immersed in planning for 2016 and incredibly excited about delivering the next installment of New Zealand Fashion Week.

Editor’s notes: The Woolmark Company is a subsidiary of Australian Wool Innovation, a not--for-- profit enterprise owned by more than 25,000 woolgrowers that invests in research, development and marketing along the worldwide supply chain for Australian wool.

A global list of finalists for the 2016 International Woolmark Prize will be announced at the end of January.

Three emerging designers from New Zealand have been nominated.

ENDS

1 Child Labor Free Social Listening Impact Report June-- Sept 2015 Saatchi & Saatchi
2 Child Labor Free Social Listening Impact Report June-- Sept 2015 Saatchi & Saatchi

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