New Zealand Fashion Week Wrap Up
New Zealand Fashion Week has come to a close and the event, which ran
from August 27 to September 3 offered a showcase of both established and
emerging designers.
Started in 2001, by Dame Pieter Stewart NZFW has become a staple of the
country’s fashion and beauty industry. Featuring both local and
international designers, the aim of the annual presentation is to provide a
means for fashion professionals to expand their brand globally.
Attended by over 30,000 guests, NZFW allows attendees and companies to
engage with one another and build connections.
Brands featuring in the shows included Ryan Turner, Kathryn Wilson,
Jockey, Trelise Cooper, Harris Tapper and Jessica Bridal.
One designer who many took notice of, was Natasha Senior, who at just
14 years old, was awarded the top prize at the YMCA Walk The Line catwalk,
taking home a 2000 US dollar scholarship to pursue a career in fashion. The
honor was given for a floral garment comprised of swimsuit material and
linen organza, which she developed over the course of a year.
2018 New Zealand Fashion Week comes to a close
The event has been applauded for its commitment to diversity, with
local stylist Sammy Salsa telling News Hub it marks a great step forward in
the industry.
“[It’s] what NZFW is perfect for and that’s why we need this showcase;
we’ve got all these amazing young designers coming through the doors and we
need this platform [so] they can grow as fashion creatives,” she noted.
“If you look at fashion on a global scale, it’s a perfect time for a
diverse industry within the fashion sector,” she added. “If you look at all
the fashion magazine covers out on the stands, [almost] every cover in
there is a black woman, and that is something to celebrate.”
Another major milestone was the featuring of the event’s first
transgender designer Cecilia Kang. South Korean born, she brought her line
of Māori-inspired items.
“It’s New Zealand designers’ goal to showcase their pieces at New
Zealand Fashion Week and a dream come true to become a couture designer,”
Kang told Māori television.
Māori refers to the Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the
indigenous population of New Zealand.
There were also a high degree of young designers who hail from New
Zealand that debuted new pieces while continuing to establish themselves as
major players in the fashion world – including Maggie Marilyn, Georgia
Alice and Wynn Hamlyn.
At 24, Maggie Marilyn founder, Maggie Hewitt has already made an
impressive mark on the industry after just two years in business – with
items stocked in high-end stores like Net-a-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman and
Lane Crawford.
Similarly, Rachel Mills, who launched her namesake brand in 2015,
presented pieces from her collection of sustainable items. They are each
certified eco-friendly by Global Organic Textile Standard – helping to set
a commendable president.
Another young face whose appearance made waves was New Zealand singer
Stan Walker, who hit the runway to model looks from Not For You. it marked
his first professional outing since having major surgery due to a battle
with stomach cancer.
This year marked the start of the event’s partnership with Getty
Images, which last month announced its effort to expand NZFW’s global
reach.