Hat designer Stephen Jones to be at Dunedin Fashion Week

07 Dec '12

3 min read

He’s designed hats for some of the world’s top celebrities – from pop stars to royalty – and now British milliner Stephen Jones is coming to iD Dunedin Fashion Week, 10-17 March 2013. Dubbed by Italian Vogue as the maker of “the most beautiful hats in the world”, London-based Jones will show a retrospective collection at next year’s iD Fashion Shows at Dunedin’s Railway Station on March 15 and 16 and join the prestigious judging panel in iD’s International Emerging Designer Awards.

Born in Cheshire, England, and a former student of the elite Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Jones burst on to the London fashion scene during its explosion of street style in the late 70s. During his 30 year career, he has designed hats for the world’s who’s who – from Lady Gaga to Princess Diana, Madonna to Audrey Tautou, Kylie Minogue to Dita Von Teese and Boy George to the Rolling Stones. He has also collaborated with iconic fashion designers including Vivienne Westwood, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Giles, Comme des Garcons and Dior.

“I am thrilled and delighted to be invited to iD Dunedin Fashion Week. Although I have visited New Zealand before, this will be my first trip 'down south'! in this most beautiful of countries,” says Stephen Jones. “I am fascinated by the whole experience; seeing the students work, being a judge, and having the honour of showing star pieces from my hat collections of the past 30 years with the most prestigious contemporary designers from the other side of the world.”

The renowned milliner joins iD’s exciting line-up of New Zealand fashion designers, including Nom*D, Tanya Carlson, Company of Strangers, Mild Red, and Charmaine Reveley and continues to raise the bar set by past iD international guests Zandra Rhodes, Akira Isogawa and Lutz Huelle.

Jones plans to show around 20 hats from his extensive career at both iD Fashion Shows on the Southern Hemisphere’s longest catwalk and collaborate with a host of past and present iD designers (including Kiwi guests) to give iD crowds a truly unique experience. “It’s an absolute coup to have Stephen Jones at iD 2013,” says iD Dunedin Fashion Week committee chair Susie Staley.

“He’s one of the world’s most beloved designers and he’s never shown in New Zealand before. It’s going to be a thrill to see his hats on the iD runway and we’re incredibly excited to unveil the collaboration between New Zealand’s great designers and Stephen Jones’s beautiful creations.”

Dr Margo Barton, milliner and iD committee member agrees. “Stephen is the epitome of millinery design and will be key to the re-emergence of millinery in our fashion industry. I have held him in high regard ever since he exploded onto the scene, especially his work with Boy George in the eighties.”

Dunedin Fashion Week