'Show of strength' to hit fashion week runway

Fashion designer Kate Sylvester.

Kiwi designer Kate Sylvester promises a show of strength when she unveils her new collection at New Zealand Fashion Week on Tuesday.

Her exclusive runway spectacular dubbed "A Muse" is the evening's debut show - and one of the most hotly-anticipated - at the seven-day annual event, which kicks off in Auckland tomorrow.

The launch of her autumn/winter 2016 collection will be the culmination of five months of preparation for Sylvester.

Despite her global success in the fashion industry, Sylvester still admits to being nervous.

"This is not just about putting pretty frocks on pretty girls," she told the Herald on Sunday. "We are expected to put on a really beautiful show and we will be creating an entire world for people to get lost in. I can't give too much away but the theme of my show is strength.

"There will be strong characters who will deliver a strong concept with maximum impact."

Sylvester has been at the forefront of Kiwi fashion for more than two decades.

She believed Fashion Week fans will see "everything and anything" from New Zealand's top designers.

"It is not like everyone is suddenly wearing purple this year or everyone will be wearing flares," she said.

"There is a sense of individuality and creativeness at the moment. It should be a pretty open-minded affair where anything goes."

She was looking forward to seeing the latest from emerging young New Zealand designers such as Lucilla Gray, who is launching her summer collection.

"Lucilla won a design internship with us and it will be exciting to see her new work," Sylvester added.

Sylvester was last month announced as Fashion Week's "Mercedes-Benz Presents" designer.

Her billing as the event's lead designer has led to the German car giant and elite partner of NZ Fashion Week to give her the keys to one of their top-of-the-range models for a year. "This is an upgrade beyond anything I have driven."

Sylvester was aware of rumours this could be the last New Zealand Fashion Week but hoped the event would continue.

"It would be terrible if this was the last one," she said. "It has given New Zealand fashion a presence at home and overseas. It has also been invaluable for young designers to build a profile while helping established names stay fresh."