2013 scholarship winner Jae Mills from Commoners – photo Sam Lee
DHL is calling for emerging fashion exporters to enter the seventh annual DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship.
Designed to identify the country’s hottest up-and-coming fashion exporters and assist them in achieving international growth, the scholarship is open to New Zealand designers who have been exporting for less than five years.
The scholarship has become an early identifier of young talent in New Zealand, with previous winners such as Stolen Girlfriends Club, Lonely Hearts, twenty-seven names and I Love Ugly going on to significant international recognition.
Paul Blomfield, chairman at FINZ and Megan Wildermoth, national strategic account manager (fashion and textiles) at DHL, will head up the panel of judges.
Megan Wildermoth says: “Through the scholarship, we offer emerging designers support in promoting their labels internationally, much of which is achieved through a strong online strategy. The online sphere is one of the most rapidly changing areas of exporting, and we believe that it will become a crucial area for those looking to export to offshore markets in the next few years.”
The winner of the scholarship will receive international freight to the value of NZ$10,000, as well as coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express.
A second prize of $1500 and third prize of $500 will also be awarded. All three finalists will receive individual export mentoring and an annual membership subscription from Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ).
New this year, the finalists will be given the opportunity to personally present their applications to the judges.
FINZ chairman, Paul Blomfield, says: “It is important both for the industry and our nation that we encourage the best new companies to get offshore and show what they can do in the international marketplace.
"Many past finalists and winners have gone on to do great things and we're proud that this competition contributes to their success, both from the generous prize from DHL, but also from the international credibility the award provides.
"This is a worthwhile event and FINZ is proud to be part of it.”
Entrants are required to complete an official application form and submit look-books from previous collections. Applications will be judged across several categories, including ‘brand and design,’ ‘sales and marketing’ and ‘export strategy.’
The DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship is open for entries on Monday, 15 September 2014, and closes on Friday 10 October, 2014.
Applicants can find more information and apply via the website: www.dhlfashionscholarship.co.nz