Grant to show women's retro swimwear at iD Fashion Week

19 Feb '14

3 min read

The high profile Paris-based Australian designer, who last April unveilled his new designer uniforms for Qantas staff modelled by supermodel Miranda Kerr, will show his latest Spring-Summer collection, which draws inspiration from an encounter between women’s swimwear from the 30s and Russian ballet dancers.

He’s dressed some of the world’s most stylish women – from Cate Blanchett to Tilda Swinton, Juliette Binoche to Cameron Diaz – and this year, one of Australia’s foremost fashion sons Martin Grant, will show at iD Dunedin Fashion Week’s 15th anniversary show.

Martin Grant will show alongside national guest WORLD, unveilling a new couture collection at iD, and iconic Dunedin designers NOM*d, Tanya Carlson, Mild-Red, Company of Strangers, Charmaine Reveley, Tamsin Cooper and DADA Vintage.

He will also be part of the judging panel for the 10th annual iD International Emerging Designer Awards and joins iD’s hall of fashion luminaries showing at the event, including Zandra Rhodes, Stephen Jones, Akira Isogawa and Lutz Huelle.

“Even after 25 years of living in Paris, I still have very strong ties with the Antipodes, and never having had the chance to visit New Zealand, I thought this was the perfect opportunity.

“New Zealand has a strong fashion history and I am looking forward to discovering its new generation.”

The designer launched his first ready to wear collection at the age of 16 and four years later was named Cointreau Young Designer of the Year. Since then he has won numerous awards and accolades and is one of a handful of Australian fashion designers asked to hold shows in the official Paris Fashion Week. His first runway show in the heart of the Marais district in Paris featured supermodel Naomi Campbell.

He has collaborated with major luxury brands – for 10 years he was the artistic director of Barneys Private Label for Barneys New York, and for Agnona (The Ermenegildo Zegna group) and has also created capsule collections for Moncler.

Known for his exquisite tailoring combining couture elegance with modern day ease and an exceptional attention to detail, Grant’s designs are worn by celebrities including his famous muses Cate Blanchett and Lee Radziwill, as well as Juliette Binoche, Emmanuelle Devos, Tilda Swinton, Blake Lively, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Meta Golding, Eva Longoria, Lady Gaga, HH Sheikha Moza and Queen Rania of Jordan.

iD Dunedin Fashion Week chair Susie Staley says this year's international guest delivers something entirely new to iD – a current collection coming straight to Dunedin from Paris.

"Martin Grant is a name synonymous with style, grace and elegance and we are thrilled to have him as part of our 15th anniversary celebrations," says Ms Staley.

"iD crowds will be given an opportunity to see the latest fashion coming out of the Northern Hemisphere, placing iD firmly on the international fashion event calendar."

iD Fashion Week