Finale on the runway at Kathryn Wilson’s New Zealand Fashion Week 2019 show. Image by Getty Images.
New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) kicks off in just under six weeks time and the full list of designers has been revealed for this year’s event which celebrates 20 years of NZFW. A fantastic mix of established and emerging designers will showcase their latest collections on the runway from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th August at the iconic Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Square.
Zambesi are back for 2021 after celebrating their 40th anniversary at NZFW 2019 and will bring their unique design signature to the main runway at Auckland Town Hall. “NZFW is back for its 20th celebration and we at Zambesi are excited to be involved once again,” says Zambesi co-founder Elisabeth Findlay. “Anticipation is building as we prepare our Spring-Summer in-season collection show to be presented at the iconic Auckland Town Hall.”
Consistently bringing the glam to runway is Adrian Hailwood who hasn’t missed a NZFW since debuting in 2002 and his casually cool but oh so elegant will bring the Hailwood charm to the runway.
Kate Sylvester’s timeless styles and beautiful productions make her shows New Zealand Fashion Week favourites and her chic presentations are always highly anticipated. “We are excited to be showing at New Zealand Fashion Week this year and to be part of 20 years of this important event celebrating New Zealand fashion,” adds Kate Sylvester.
Taking to the contemporary salon runway in her first solo show is talented designer Caitlin Crisp who is four seasons in now in her eponymous label. Caitlin’s ranges demonstrate her playful yet modern style with garments mostly created with natural fibres. “I am incredibly excited to be in NZFW 21 showing my Season 5 collection. I’m vividly reminded of preparing for my first NZFW experience in the 2018 Grad Show and I still get goosebumps thinking about it,” enthuses Caitlin Crisp. “The collection combines my beginnings in dance and costume with the best sellers of CC so far, finely tuned and given a boost of sophistication.”
A firm favourite for her joyful shows is New Zealand’s premier footwear designer, Kathryn Wilson, who will no doubt bring high energy and a killer soundtrack to NZFW to showcase the latest footwear from her Winter’22 and Summer’21 collections. “We love to create memorable experiences for our customers to engage with our brands, catwalk shows are a great way of bringing our footwear to life with beautiful styling, up-lifting music and diverse models, and NZ Fashion Week is considered the pinnacle event for guests who love fashion and want to support local brands,” says Kathryn Wilson.
Kowtow are well known for their ethical ethos creating contemporary collections from organic, renewable and bio-degradable cottons that are 100% Fairtrade certified. This year Kowtow will be hosting a seminar, entitled ‘Single Use Planet’ that will focus on themes around sustainable material and packaging innovation and waste minimisation. Panellists include Kowtow founder Gosia Piatek, Deadly Ponies founder Liam Bowden and skincare entrepreneur Emma Lewisham with Noelle McCarthy MCing the event.
After a stunning debut in 2019, Benjamin Alexander will bring his effortlessly cool creations to NZFW for a second time. Alongside designing luxrious pieces, Benjamin is also focused on employing artisanal practices and the brand’s vision of luxury clothing is considerate of the effects on the future of design, and the planet.
Bobby Luke from Campbell Luke also made an impact at NZFW 2019 with his moving show that was influenced by his Māori heritage. Using his strong kaupapa Māori ethos he works in aspects of his whakapapa to his garments, making statements about the colonisation of Aotearoa and utilising his art background to champion his ideas.
Cecilia Kang will be returning this year after a spectacular solo presentation in 2019 and her 2021 show will be a collaboration of light, love, and nature-inspired couture alongside natural skincare brand, Nellie Tier. Kang’s garments will see flower motifs and nature patterns in “disruptive harmony” with animal prints – including zebra and wild cat – along with unique embellishments to bring colour and diversity.
New label, Cruz del Sur, who launched in 2020 will be making their NZFW debut this year led by founder and designer MINXI. The label specialises in children and adult fashion design, covering high-end and ready-to-wear apparel.
This year’s New Generation Show will feature four emerging designers including Jakob Carter, Cylée, Society Apparel & Society Hats and a group of Pacific Island designers who will show under Nora Swann.
Rounding out the schedule of designers for NZFW 2021 are Kneufermann, Miromoda, Stolen Girlfriends Club, Jockey, Havilah, Elusive Lingerie, White Silk Bridal Couture, Jaqueline-Anne, Wild & White Bridal and Bendon.
“This year’s line-up is a true reflection of the talent we have in New Zealand. We’re thrilled with the calibre of designers, buyers and brands who will be a part of our 20th Anniversary,” says Dame Pieter Stewart, NZFW founder and managing director.
“It’s also wonderful to see so many designers actively supporting our call to address pertinent issues such as diversity, inclusion and sustainability,” she says. “We’re passionate about playing a leading role in addressing social issues and encouraging the fashion industry to improve its social impact. And as always, New Zealand Fashion Week provides a unique environment that allows local designers to shine, both creatively and in business, building and supporting an innovative and forward-thinking fashion community.”
The full list of designers in alphabetical order:
ANNA VIDAL // AUCKLAND
ANNMARIE WILLIAMS // AUCKLAND
ARBY AND OPAL // AUCKLAND
ATIREIRA // WELLINGTON
AUGUSTINE // AUCKLAND
BANSHEE // AUCKLAND
BEACH BRAINS // AUCKLAND
BENDON // AUCKLAND
BENJAMIN ALEXANDER // AUCKLAND
BLOODY ANGELO // TAURANGA
BY NATALIE // AUCKLAND
CAITLIN CRISP // AUCKLAND
CAMPBELL LUKE // WELLINGTON
CARLSON // AUCKLAND
CECILIA KANG X NELLIE TIER // AUCKLAND
CLARA BOSSHARD // DUNEDIN
CLQ // AUCKLAND
CRUZ DEL SUR // AUCKLAND
CYLÉE // AUCKLAND
DAISY.J // AUCKLAND
DOBRE FASHION // WELLINGTON
ELIZA PERRY // CHRISTCHURCH
ELLA.BELLA.EQUESTRIAN // KAPITI COAST
ELUSIVE LINGERIE // AUCKLAND
FEDERATION // AUCKLAND
FILO – MASOE SISTERS // WELLINGTON
FRENCH FREDDIE // AUCKLAND
GEORGIE // AUCKLAND
HAILWOOD // AUCKLAND
HAVILAH // WELLINGTON
ITI // ROTORUA
J’AKE // HAMILTON
JACQUELINE ANNE // HAMILTON
JAKOB CARTER // BAY OF PLENTY
JAMES TAYLOR // AUCKLAND
JASON LINGARD // AUCKLAND
JAVIER ARANAS // WELLINGTON
JING HÉ // AUCKLAND
JOCKEY // AUCKLAND
JOSH JOZSEF // WELLINGTON
JULIETTE HOGAN // AUCKLAND
KARAOKESUPERSTARS // DUNEDIN
KATE BUTTERWORTH // AUCKLAND
KATE SYLVESTER // AUCKLAND
KATE TILLARD // AUCKLAND
KATHRYN WILSON // AUCKLAND
KHARL WIREPA // ROTORUA
KIDZ CLUB // AUCKLAND
KNUEFERMANN // AUCKLAND
LEMON TREE DESIGN // AUCKLAND
LONTESSA // SINGAPORE
LUCAS & LUCIA // AUCKLAND
LUCY ZHAO // AUCKLAND
M.Y.KIDS // AUCKLAND
MALLO // AUCKLAND
MEGAN KING // AUCKLAND
MINTI // AUCKLAND
MOKE // OAMARU
MUSE BOUTIQUE // AUCKLAND
OOSTEROM // AUCKLAND
OSER // AUCKLAND
PIA // AUCKLAND
SCOTTIES // AUCKLAND
SIENNA BLAIR // DUNEDIN
SIMONNE DENHAM // AUCKLAND
SJAAN HOPMAN // WELLINGTON
SOCIETY APPRAREL & SOCIETY HATS // NORHTLAND
STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB // AUCKLAND
TEAV STUDIOS // AUCKLAND
THE COLOUR CLOSET // WELLINGTON
TUESDAY LABEL // AUCKLAND
VOLEAK PHORN // AUCKLAND
WHATU // PALMESTORN NORTH
WHITE SILK BRIDAL COUTURE // TAURANGA
WILD + WHITE BRIDAL //CHRISTCHURCH
ZAMBESI // ACUKLAND