Pamela Anderson heads to NZ Fashion Week

Pamela Anderson will be putting in an appearance at NZ Fashion Week. Photo / Supplied

The designs of more than 40 local and international labels will sashay down the catwalk at Air New Zealand Fashion Week in September, organisers said today.

The line-up would feature top New Zealand labels including Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester and Trelise Cooper as well as a host of new designers.

Muse, an eco and animal friendly line, by designer Richie Rich and actress Pamela Anderson was announced as the first US label to feature at the event.

More labels would be confirmed by September, fashion week managing director Pieter Stewart said.

The labels will showcase Autumn/Winter 2010 collections for five days from September 21.

Ms Stewart said the ninth annual event would feature "a number of new initiatives".

"We recognised early on that 2009 was going to be an extremely challenging year for the fashion industry, so we've cut our cloth accordingly," she said.

"If there is one thing we've learnt at Air New Zealand Fashion Week it's to adapt and change in difficult times.

"Along with the list of returning designers we've also selected a number of new designers, there are international designer shows and we've created new format shows which will make 2009 a year to remember," she said.

The new shows included "up and coming stars" from New Zealand and Australia and Maori designers.

A new "little black dress show" would feature five of New Zealand's top designers and five of Australia's top designers.

- NZPA