Yvonne Bennetti to present line at Dunedin Fashion Week

The New Zealand fashion designer – who has dressed Kiwi stars such as Rachel Hunter and Lorraine Downes – will join celebrity UK milliner Stephen Jones as a guest designer at the iD Fashion Shows at Dunedin’s Railway Station on March 15 and 16.

The renowned guest joins iD’s tradition of showcasing high profile  New Zealand fashion designers, which in the past has included Zambesi, Liz Mitchell, Francis Hooper of WORLD, Adrian Hailwood and Cybèle.

Over her 25-year career in the fashion industry, Bennetti has established herself at the forefront of New Zealand luxury womenswear through her textile design, eveningwear and bridal collections. iD crowds will be treated to a 15-strong collection, including three of her much sought after bridal gowns, five glamorous eveningwear pieces, four day pieces, and three vintage/retrospective outfits.  

After graduating from Auckland Polytechnic in 1989, Bennetti worked for two years as an assistant designer to Trelise Cooper, before embarking on a career in textile design in Hong Kong. During her 12 years in Hong Kong, Bennetti created fabrics for high-end fashion labels, including Roberto Cavalli, Donna Karan, former iD guest Akira Isogawa, Collette Dinnigan, Easton Pearson, Tanya Carlson, NOM*d, Trelise Cooper and Zambesi. In 2003, she opened her own store in Auckland, returning permanently in 2007.

Bennetti is “excited and honoured” to be part of iD.

“We don’t wholesale in Dunedin, so I’m inspired to show people in the south my work (especially our bridal and vintage collections) and hope they’ll find it interesting.

“Dunedin has an eclectic and distinctive fashion style and because my work is very embellished and feminine and bright, it will be quite different to what Dunedin audiences are used to seeing on the runway. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to show my collection.”

iD Dunedin Fashion Week committee chair Susie Staley says audiences are guaranteed to see an exquisite collection from Bennetti.

“We’re really excited to have her here and, as a big fan of her designs, I personally can’t wait to see her gorgeous creations on the iD catwalk.” 

Strategy First