iD International Emerging Designer finalists announced

18 Jan '13

3 min read

Innovative fashion talent from around the globe showing off new technology, 3D garments, extreme fantasy and color await audiences at the ninth annual iD International Emerging Designer Awards held in Dunedin, New Zealand on March 14, 2013.

Thirty one finalists representing five countries – New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland and China – have been chosen for the prestigious Awards from a pool of more than 100 entries from some of the world’s best fashion schools. The iD Awards will be held at the Lion Foundation Arena, Edgar Stadium, and Dunedin, New Zealand.

This year’s selection committee – consisting of fashion designers Tanya Carlson, Margi Robertson and Mickey Lin were impressed by the high standard of applicants displaying incredible new technologies and creativity.

“It was a really difficult process to take the huge number of entries and select the finalists as there were so many applicants who were of a very high standard,” says MisteR Co-founder Mickey Lin.

“I was quite amazed – it’s bringing a new future to fashion.”

Fellow selector and fashion designer Tanya Carlson agreed, adding that this year’s collections were “challenging and thought provoking”, with an edge of exaggeration.

“Some of the collections could have been seen on the likes of Lady Gaga or Nicki Minaj. The future of fabric technology is changing and design student’s imagination means they can do anything. The fundamentals are still there in terms of pattern making, proportion and colour choices, but I’m fascinated to see how technology will be transformed into collections on the catwalk.”

The iD Committee Chair Susie Staley says as the only fashion competition of its kind in New Zealand, with a strong international reputation, the iD Awards continue to attract the best of New Zealand and international fashion talent.

“The iD International Emerging Designer Awards offer graduates a unique opportunity to be critiqued by some of the most influential fashion leaders in the world. This year, our guest, UK celebrity milliner Stephen Jones will be part of the judging panel – just as previous guests including Zandra Rhodes, Akira Isogawa, Hilary Alexander and Lutz Huelle have been. iD is a chance to be noticed on an international stage.”

This year’s finalists are:

From New Zealand:

-Auckland University of Technology: Sara Andrews; Petra Benton; Charlotte Cho; Sohong Lim; Monique Lynch; Richard McCoy; Fraser Mildon; Bay Rawlinson.

-Massey University, Wellington: James Bush; Katharina Hoen; Mary Hutchison; Ayla Rorvik.

-Otago Polytechnic: Rakel Blom; Mandy Myles; Samuel Ralph.