iD International Emerging Designer Awards 2020 finalist Eliska Marczan. Image supplied.
The iD International Emerging Designer Awards have chosen 33 finalists for 2020 with the winners to be announced at its inaugural virtual awards show. This is the 16th year of the awards in partnership with Otago Polytechnic and it is the only emerging designer show anywhere in the world to accept entries from recent fashion graduates throughout the globe. As with many other events the usual show has been moved online due to Covid-19 with the virtual experience comprising of an exciting video show produced by international production house NHNZ.
Judges assessed over 150 applications for this year’s event with the chosen 33 finalists representing 14 countries. The judging group was led by head judge Tanya Carlson, designer of Carlson, with Wynn Crawshaw of Wynn Hamlyn, sustainability journalist and former iD International Emerging Designer Awards finalist Fiona Ralph and designer Donna Tulloch of Mild-Red.
The applicants’ designs were submitted earlier this year before the global pandemic unfolded but the panel noted that their ideas reflected their observations on challenges faced by the world. “It was wonderful to see young people thinking creatively of a way to help out,” says Tanya Carlson. “Collectively they showed outstanding use of recycled fabric, clever upcycling and embraced new technologies. There was also an overall trend to tell their own story through references to their ethnicity and culture which was explored with beautiful, sensitive design.”
Journalist Fiona Ralph, who was a finalist in 2007, found it fascinating to be on the other side of the panel as a judge this time. “While the designs were so impressive from the pattern cutting to the fabric choices and colour it was the meaning behind each collection which impressed me,” adds Fiona. “So many designers looked to their heritage, created sustainable statements or brought other important topics to light.”
Usually all the finalists would travel to Dunedin for a week of activity, judging and the Awards Show but as the Board of iD Dunedin Inc. identified early that international travel would be an issue they started working on a virtual awards show with NHNZ in early March. Each of the 33 finalists has contributed to the show, filming their own video – many from lockdown – for inclusion in the online event.
It was quite a challenge to turn a full live event into a suitable online one but the iD Dunedin Fashion Inc. volunteer board, co-chair Dr Margo Barton says it has also provided new opportunities. “As all judging will be undertaken remotely it has enabled us to tap into leading designers from around the world,” says Margo. “We’re looking forward to announcing an all-star line-up of international jurors from throughout the world shortly. The finalists will be delighted to learn who is assessing their work.”
iD Dunedin is talking to global partners about sharing the video production so there may yet be international distribution for the vibrant online show. Final details and the date of the awards will be released soon but in the meantime the full list of 2020 iD International Emerging Designer Awards finalists and their collections are:
Anelisa Mcetywa; Harmony; Cape Peninsula University of Technology; South Africa
Anna Hambira; The Private Revolution of the Individualists; University of Applied Arts Vienna, Vienna
Beier Kang; 2D-3D; Shanghai University of Engineering Science; China
Bonita Alexander; Lost Property; Queensland University of Technology; Australia
Eliska Marczan; Matrilineal; University of Technology, Sydney; Australia
Ellen Cara Watson; Praevado; Fashion Design Studio, TAFE, Sydney; Australia
Faiha Rahmani; Of Two Minds; University of Technology, Sydney; Australia
He Xinyi; My Bed; Donghua University; Shanghai, China
Imuy Teav; Gentle Man; Auckland University of Technology; New Zealand
Isabella Diorio; F.E.T. (Female Engagement Team); Kent State University; USA
Isabelle Badr; In Gear; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Jordyn Smith; Fashion’s Prometheus; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Julie Mwiragua; Tenderhead; South Metropolitan TAFE, Bentley, WA; Australia
Julien Esteves; La Nausee Istituto Marangoni; London; United Kingdom
Kauri Takahashi; Boro Boro; Massey University, New Zealand
Ketty Lin; Proteggimi; Polimoda; Italy
Kim Clark; overlapped, RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Lillian Yufan; WHISKING PAST, Donghua University, China
Ruby Van der Zanden; Why Not? We’re on Holiday; Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin; New Zealand
Marlena Czak; Why me, why me; Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź; Poland
Mei Zheng; See Me; University of Technology, Sydney; Australia
Micaela Ailen, Camila Bautista and Gonzalez Lema; Luxo Gang; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Morgan Allen; MRGN The Label; Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester; United Kingdom
Nadya Kusumo; 925, RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Pujasree Vatsa; Saudade, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai; India
Sheung Yung (Sharon) Tsang; Hallucination; Donghua University; Shanghai, China
Srinvanti Roymoulik; Flowing Rhythm; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Stina Margareta Randestad; Hybrids; The Swedish School of Textiles; Sweden
Vera Kalugina; Aurora; Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin; New Zealand
Zarin Tasnim Mim; Safe Amazon; BGMEA University of Fashion design and Technology; Bangladesh
Zhongchen (Jake) Liu; No, Everlasting Eternity; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
You can find out more about each of the designers and view a look from their work on iD’s website. Best of luck to all the finalists.
Images supplied.