iD International Emerging Designer Awards 2020 has announced 33 finalists from 14 countries for the inaugural online show produced by international production house, NHNZ.
As The Last Fashion Bible reported back in March, the move to become a virtual experience was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finalists have been shortlisted from over 150 applications which were assessed by an all-star line-up of New Zealand designers. The group led by Tanya Carlson of Tanya Carlson along with Wynn Crawshaw of Wynn Hamlyn, sustainability journalist and former iD International Emerging Designer Awards finalist Fiona Ralph and Donna Tulloch of Mild-Red.
“It was wonderful to see young people thinking creatively of a way to help out,” said Carlson on the topic of the selected designers. “Collectively they showed outstanding use of recycled fabric, cleaver upcycling, and embraced new technologies. There was also an overall trend to tell their own story through references to their ethnicity and culture which was explored with beautiful, sensitive design.”
Fiona Ralph, who was a finalist in 2007, noted that narrowing down the shortlist was harder than she had anticipated.
“While the designs were so impressive from the pattern cutting to the fabric choices and colour it was the meaning behind each collection which impressed me. So many designers looked to their heritage, created sustainable statements or brought other important topics to light.”
In previous years, finalists for the iD International Emerging Designer Awards travelled to Dunedin for a week of activity, judging and the awards show. The Board of iD Dunedin Inc. identified early that international travel would be an issue and so in early March they started working on a virtual awards show with NHNZ. Each of the finalists has contributed, filming their own video — many from lockdown — for inclusion in the show.
While moving quickly to create a virtual show has been challenging for the iD Dunedin Fashion Inc. volunteer board, co-chair Dr Margo Barton says it has also provided new opportunities.
“As all judging will be undertaken remotely it has enabled us to tap into leading designers from around the world. We’re looking forward to announcing an all-star line-up of international jurors from throughout the world shortly. The finalists will be delighted to learn who is assessing their work.”
iD Dunedin Fashion Inc. co-chair Sally Peart says the new format offers many advantages and early indications are that it will be a huge success and may become the norm for delivering this global competition.
See the full list of finalists and their entries below.
2020 iD International Emerging Designer Awards Finalists and Collections
Anelisa Mcetywa
Harmony; Cape Peninsula University of Technology; South Africa
Anna Hambira
The Private Revolution of the Individualists; University of Applied Arts Vienna; Austria
Beier Kang
2D-3D; Shanghai University of Engineering Science; China
Bonita Alexander
Lost Property; Queensland University of Technology; Australia
Eliska Marczan
Matrilineal; University of Technology, Sydney; Australia
Ellen Cara Watson
Praevado; Fashion Design Studio, TAFE, Sydney; Australia
Faiha Rahmani
Of Two Minds; University of Technology, Sydney; Australia
He Xinyi
My Bed; Donghua University; Shanghai, China
Imuy Teav
Gentle Man; Auckland University of Technology; New Zealand
Isabella Diorio
F.E.T. (Female Engagement Team); Kent State University; USA
Isabelle Badr
In Gear; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Jordyn Smith
Fashion’s Prometheus; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Julie Mwiragua
Tenderhead; South Metropolitan TAFE; Australia
Julien Esteves Berthier
La Nausee; Istituto Marangoni, London; United Kingdom
Kauri Takahashi
Boro Boro; Massey University; New Zealand
Ketty Lin
Proteggimi; Polimoda; Italy
Kim Clark
Overlapped; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Yufan Li
WHISKING PAST; Donghua University; China
Ruby Van der Zanden
Why Not? We’re on Holiday; Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin; New Zealand
Marlena Czak
Why me, why me; Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź; Poland
Mei Zheng
See Me; University of Technology, Sydney; Australia
Micaela Ailen, Camila Bautista and Gonzalez Lema
Luxo Gang; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina
Morgan Allen
MRGN The Label; Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester; United Kingdom
Nadya Kusumo
925; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Pujasree Vatsa
Saudade; National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai; India
Sheung Yung (Sharon) Tsang
Hallucination; Donghua University; Shanghai, China
Srinvanti Roymoulik
Flowing Rhythm; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Stina Margareta Randestad
Hybrids; The Swedish School of Textiles; Sweden
Vera Kalugina
Aurora; Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin; New Zealand
Zarin Tasnim Mim
Safe Amazon; BGMEA University of Fashion Design and Technology; Bangladesh
Zhongchen (Jake) Liu
No, Everlasting Eternity; RMIT University, Melbourne; Australia
Congratulations to all the finalists! Stay with The Fashion Bible for more details on the iD International Emerging Designer Awards 2020.
