iD Dunedin Fashion Week captivates crowds

02 Apr '12

4 min read

More than 3000 fashion lovers were dazzled by inspiring designer collections – and high profile special guests – at this year's iD Fashion Shows held at Dunedin Railway Station on Friday 30 March and Saturday 31 March.

iD Dunedin Fashion Week once again secured its place as an international must-see fashion event when two times ANDAM award winner, Paris-based fashion designer Lutz Huelle amazed audiences with his retrospective collection of stunning designs showcasing his global reputation for fashion innovation, style and flair.

Coming direct to iD from Paris Fashion Week and following on from the success of past iD international guests Akira Isogawa and Zandra Rhodes, Lutz Huelle gave the iD event an international flavour which impressed audiences at the sell-out shows.

“I thought it was just incredible that the show was so unique,” says Lutz Huelle.

“Dunedin has its own distinctive fashion scene and its own taste. So many fashion shows all over the world produce similar fashion trends, but Dunedin is truly unique. It's not just about frilly dresses and sequins – it's slightly gothic, it's sporty, it's diverse. There are so many different styles and so many different women in the audience. I thought it was amazing. Everything was brilliant – it was so euphoric, so lovely. I was so excited to be part of it.”

Now in its 13th year, the annual iD Dunedin Fashion Shows were the culmination of a week-long celebration of fashion events in the city. The shows followed Thursday night's iD International Emerging Designer Awards – where top new talent from around the world vied for cash prizes, judged by leading fashion authorities Hilary Alexander, Nicholas Huxley, Lutz Huelle and partner David Ballu, alongside our own Tanya Carlson and Margi Robertson (Nom*D).

Hosted by TV3's John Campbell, this year's shows featured more than 20 labels showing their winter collections on the Southern Hemisphere's longest catwalk. Crowd favourites included Nom*d, Carlson, Mild Red, Charmaine Reveley, Company of Strangers, DADA Vintage and Vaughan Geeson.

Other highlights included the Celebrate Christchurch collection – featuring top labels Caroline Moore, Barbara Lee and MisteR – with New Zealand's Next Top Model judge Colin Mathura-Jeffree making a surprise return to the catwalk – and wowing crowds – modelling MisteR's exciting new winter range.

RUBY and Liam (from Madame Hawke's Emily Miller-Sharma) excited crowds at iD for the first time this year, with Emily Miller-Sharma returning to iD as a fully fledged designer after winning second place in the iD Emerging Designer Awards in 2007.

“This year's line-up was truly world class, with audiences enjoying the very best Kiwi fashion talent, including some great new designers, alongside an incredible guest designer,” says iD Committee Chair Susie Staley.

“Every year we build on the success of the last – and iD 2012 wasa triumph. We were fortunate to be able to secure the attendance of our two high profile international judges for the iD Awards - British fashion icon Hilary Alexander and Australian fashion authority Nicholas Huxley. They've added an extra dimension to the judging panel and have truly cemented the credibility of the week on the global fashion calendar.”