Emerging designers in the spotlight

Creations by New Zealand designer Amelia Boland, a graduate of Otago Polytechnic, who is one of the finalists in next year's iD International Emerging Designer Awards. Photo / Supplied

The finalists for next year's iD International Emerging Designer Awards have been announced.

Held as part of the annual iD Dunedin Fashion Week, the awards present an opportunity for up-and-coming designers to showcase their work in public while competing for cash prizes.

More than 120 designers, representing some of the world's most prestigious fashion schools, applied to show at next April's awards.

The 31 selected finalists come from nine different countries, with 13 from New Zealand and nine from Australia.

Other countries represented include Croatia, Germany and Israel.

Nom*D designer Margi Robertson, one of those on the selection panel, said the awards allowed emerging designers to "present the whole spirit of their creativity on a runway".

"There are very few opportunities for new designers to be able to do this outside of their learning institutions," she said.

"As a fashion designer you never stop being judged.

"Alongside a highly credible judging panel, these collections will also be judged by a discerning audience, including the people of Dunedin."

Fellow selector, designer Tanya Carlson, said it was encouraging to see so many graduate designers from all over the world applying to show in Dunedin.

"It's a huge achievement to get into this fashion competition as the calibre of entrants this year has been very high compared to previous years," she said.

The awards, which include a $5000 prize for first place, will be held on April 7 next year, at Dunedin's Edgar Stadium.

FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

Australia

Renee Bock - Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Kate Bolzonello - Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Shenaz Engineer - Queensland University of Technology
Alexandra Kenworthy - University of Technology, Sydney
Takahiro Kunitoshi - Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Sarah Mok - University of Technology, Sydney
Laura Poole - University of Technology, Sydney
Jo Templin - Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Hui Vivien Zhang - University of Technology, Sydney

Belgium

Michael Kampe - Royal Academy of Fine Arts

Croatia

Tomislav Durdevic - School for textile, design and art, Osijek

Germany

Fibi Wiebke Truebner - ESMOD, Berlin

Israel

Hadas Katz - Shenkar College of Engineering and Design

The Netherlands

Sarah Petersen - ArtEZ Institute of the Arts, Arnhem

New Zealand

Sarah Atkins - Auckland University of Technology
Amelia Boland - Otago Polytechnic
Julia Campbell - Whitecliffe College of Art and Design
Nour Hassan - Whitecliffe College of Art and Design
Natasha Johnston - Otago Polytechnic
Marie Kelly - Massey University
Yue Hui (Faye) Ma - Otago Polytechnic
Lucy McIntosh - Massey University
Renuka Pana - Auckland University of Technology
Greer Sharrock Osborne - Massey University
Lucie Sutichunta - Auckland University of Technology
Aihua Wei - Massey University
Roxanna Zamani - Otago Polytechnic

Spain

Ariadna Rovira Lorente - Escuela Superior de Diseno y Moda

United Kingdom

Miyoko Kamijo - Royal College of Art, London
Bunmi Olaye - University of East London
Marielle Van De Ven - Royal College of Art, London