Westpac Young Fashion Designer

The Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition is New Zealand’s launch pad for emerging and high potential fashion designers…

The Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition is New Zealand’s launch pad for emerging and high potential fashion designers.

The competition is open to students who are currently completing a New Zealand fashion based tertiary course, or have graduated from a New Zealand fashion based tertiary course within the last four years.

“Everyone needs to start somewhere,” says Karen Inderbitzen-Waller. “Building a brand takes a long time. This is a leg up for the right person, who then has to seize the opportunity and make the most of it. I aim to help see that it goes to the right recipient.”

With entries flooding in from Auckland to Dunedin, and everywhere in-between, the fashionable judging panel will have their work cut out for them.

Left: Helen Trethewey. Below: Ruri Castillo.

Top 10 finalists in the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition are:

Ruri Castillo, Auckland
A graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at AUT University, Ruri’s colourful, Mexico and Harajuku influenced collection is titled, ‘Pretty in Skulls’.

Georgia Currie, Christchurch
A final year student enrolled in the Diploma in Fashion Technology and Design at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Georgia’s desert-toned collection is titled, ‘Wonder Axis’.

Jessica Grubisa, Auckland
A final year student enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Fashion Design) at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, Jessica’s early hip hop influenced collection is titled, ‘More Money, More Problems’.

Laura Marshall, Nelson
A graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at Otago Polytechnic, Laura’s androgynous menswear collection is titled, ‘While the City Sleeps’.

Trish Peng & Qiulae Wong, Auckland
A third year student enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Fashion Design) at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, Trish recently formed a label partnership with Qiulae, who is in the final year of a BA/LLB at the University of Auckland. Their feminine, Utopia-inspired collection is titled, ‘Land of Omelas’.

Glen Prentice, Auckland
A final year student enrolled in the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at AUT University, Glen’s dark, occult-referenced collection is titled, ‘Thou Wilt’

Lucie Sutichunta, Auckland/Timaru
A graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at AUT University, Lucie’s colourful, Thai-inspired collection is titled, ‘Siamese Sweetheart’.

Helen Trethewey, Wellington
A graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at Massey University, Helen’s deconstructed, ballet shoe inspired collection is titled, ‘Stitch of Grace’.

Miriam White, Wellington
A graduate of the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) at Massey University, Miriam’s preppy collection is titled, ‘The Prelude’.

Roxanna Zamani, Invercargill
A graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Textile) at Otago Polytechnic, Roxanna’s sculptural couture collection is titled, ‘Antithesis’The three designers who amass the most public votes by Sunday 14 August will travel to Auckland to present their mini-collections in front of the judges during New Zealand Fashion Week. After a dramatic live runway walk-off at the Westpac RED COLLECTION show on Thursday 1 September, the winner will be announced.

The winner of the Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition will receive a Westpac bank account with NZ$5000, plus dedicated business banking advice. This year’s prize also includes a year-long professional mentorship from an established and successful New Zealand fashion designer.

The annual Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition was launched in 2010 to mark the fifth Westpac RED COLLECTION show at New Zealand Fashion Week. The response from young designers was overwhelming, with over 70 original mini-collections entered from all around the country.

Two rounds of judging and more than 12,000 public votes later, 20-year-old Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology student, Jess Britten, walked away with the inaugural award.

“People need a positive outlet for their creativity,” says Boh Runga. “New Zealand is a nation full of ideas that need to be seen. Having a competition like this, that enables a budding designer to get their clothing out to people, is a wonderful way to nurture that creativity and support New Zealand business as a whole.”

Below: photo from Miriam White’s collection ‘The Prelude’ shot by Benjamin and Elise Johnson of Benjamin and Elise Photography www.benjaminandelise.com

Key Competition Dates:
5pm, Thursday 28 July, 2011– Entries deadline
Wednesday 3 August, 2011 – Top 10 semi-finalists announced on Facebook, public voting commences
Tuesday 16 August, 2011 – Top 3 finalists announced
Thursday 1 September, 2011 – Westpac RED COLLECTION show, winner announced live!

Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition 2011 Prize Package:
NZ$5000 deposited into a Westpac business account in the name of the winner to go towards furthering their fashion career
Mentoring from a Westpac RED COLLECTION designer for 1 year
Business banking advice from Westpac for 1 year

Westpac Young Fashion Designer Competition official Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/westpacyoungdesigner