Sustainable fashion is the key trend that’s showing no sign of slowing down. So it’s no surprise that long-life fashion is set to take centre stage at this year’s New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW).
This year, New Zealand’s premier fashion event moves to a new base and back to its origins at the historic Town Hall and Aotea Square precinct along with many exciting character destinations within the city.
Now in its 19th year, NZFW is welcoming designers to take to the runway and share in what NZFW Founder and Managing Director, Dame Pieter Stewart, is calling “One of the most exciting things to have happened to fashion in recent years.”
“Seasons are no longer the relevant drivers,” says Stewart in a press release. “Consumers and retailers are looking for quality over quantity, year-round versatility, wearability and longevity and we have taken up this challenge for the New Zealand fashion industry. This direction will be consistent for Fashion Week and Fashion Weekend and early feedback from the design community is positive.”
NZFW provides a launchpad for local designers to showcase their skills and grow their business both nationally and internationally. There are 55 shows and sessions scheduled over the week, attended by a focussed audience of 30,000 which includes local and international buyers and delegates.
Designer Jerome Taylor believes without NZFW, his label Not For You wouldn’t have made such an impact — both at home and overseas.
“Not For You has showcased at NZFW for the past three years,” said Taylor. “We started in the Graduate Show in 2016 then in 2017 we showcased in the New Generation Show. In 2018 we had our biggest show yet which was also our first solo show. The brand has thrived by working with New Zealand Fashion Week and we have taken up every opportunity. Showcasing at NZFW has led to some amazing breaks such as [showing in] Harbin, China in January 2019 and Vancouver, Canada in 2018.
“We are so lucky as a brand to have worked so closely with New Zealand Fashion Week and we look forward to seeing what’s in store for 2019.”
A prospectus detailing the requirements for designers and the extensive support to assist new designers is available and designers simply need to complete the application form available on the NZFW website and submit by 17 May 2019.
“Our designers are looking for occasions to not only showcase their collections but also to demonstrate the progress made in striving for the best possible level of sustainable and ethical business practice,” said Stewart. “This is a huge step for our event and we will use this high-profile platform to help NZ designers share these values and ethics with a wider audience.”
NZFW 2019 opens on Monday 26 August and runs through to Fashion Weekend which closes on Sunday 1 September.
