The finalists for this year’s iD International Emerging Designer Awards have been named.
Hero image Catherine Balle’s design from Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design
46 emerging designers from around the globe will showcase the latest in fashion innovation and creativity as they compete for top prizes in this year’s prestigious iD International Emerging Designer Shows to be held at the Dunedin Town Hall on Thursday May 3 and Friday May 4.
The finalists, selected from a record 200 entries, will travel to Dunedin from their home countries to be judged by an international panel of experts at the new look iD International Emerging Show, supported by the Otago Polytechnic.
Dr Margo Barton, Professor of Fashion and iD Dunedin Fashion Creative Director says the talent on show for 2018 is pushing the boundaries with diverse cultural and personal identities explored through their fashion languages.
The Emerging Shows will take centre stage as the main show at this year’s reinvigorated iD Dunedin Fashion event, held from May 2-6. The main shows will be held over two nights at the Dunedin Town Hall which will be fitted out to create an extensive multi-level runway to allow for additional front row seats and closer audience seating overall.
The 2018 Emerging selection committee is made up of Kiwi fashion designers Tanya Carlson, Benny Castles (WORLD), and Margi Robertson (NOM*d). They noted the exceptional standard of entries from around the world, which made selecting a pool of finalists extremely difficult.
Says Tanya Carlson: “iD 2018 will present a real diversity of cutting-edge international fashion where 17 countries are represented with each collection interpreting elements of that culture in original design.”
From New Zealand, this year’s finalists are April Gourdie, Ariane Ilagan, Wilbur Hsu from Auckland University of Technology, Sally Oh, Catherine Balle, Wade O’Brien from Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, Gemma Cornish from Massey University in Wellington and Dylan McCutcheon-Pea from Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin.
Prizes include NZ$6000 for the H&J First Place winner, Rodd and Gunn Second Place ($4000), Gallery de Novo Third Place ($2000) and a range of other special prizes.
For the full lists of finalists, visit idfashion.co.nz. Tickets are on sale from Monday February 26 through ticketmaster.co.nz
