Outfit by designer Tanya Carlson on the runway at iD Dunedin Fashion Week 2017. Image by Chris Sullivan.
iD Dunedin Fashion Week will showcase the ready-to-wear collections of sixteen acclaimed New Zealand designers on the runway next month to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the event. The designers will take part in the iD Dunedin 20th Anniversary shows on Friday 15 March and Saturday 16 March alongside the emerging designers competing in the iD International Emerging Designer Awards.
The list of local designers taking to the runway includes some veteran iconic brands as well as talented established designers. The full line-up is: Carlson, Charmaine Reveley, Company of Strangers, DADA, Hailwood, Kate Sylvester, Liam, Maaike, MildRED, Nom*D, Ruby, Stolen Girlfriends Club, WORLD, Wynn Hamlyn, Yvonne Bennetti and Zambesi.
“Since a small, dedicated group of volunteers started iD Dunedin in 1999, the show has evolved from a celebration of Dunedin’s underground fashion to a week-long festival recognising the importance of the fashion industry to the city and the country,” says Otago Polytechnic Professor of Fashion and iD Dunedin Creative Director, Dr Margo Barton.
“What’s more, the addition of the iD International Emerging Design Awards 15 years ago has given us a platform to foster and develop young designers from New Zealand and throughout the world and at the same time get a sneak peek at fashion forward trends before they hit the runways of Milan and Paris.”
This year the event moves to the historic Regent Theatre but will continue the tradition of having a super long runway. “One of the most exciting things is creating a show which jumps off the runway and allows the models to walk through the audience,” adds Margo. “This means that no matter whether guests are sitting in the circle or the stalls they will see all the garments up close.”
The iD Dunedin 20th Anniversary Shows will feature New Zealand’s established designers in the first half and the iD International Emerging Designer collections in the second half. The Friday night show will also include the exciting iD International Emerging Designer Awards ceremony.
The shows are the feature event of a fun week of fashion-inspired events around Dunedin with lectures, parades, shopping and dining experiences across the city. Check out the full calendar on iD’s website.
Tickets for the iD Dunedin 20th Anniversary Shows are available on TicketDirect.