NATIONAL: New Zealand fashion's week of week's looks set to be infiltrated by a group brimming with Ocker attitude.
The release of a preliminary schedule by Air New Zealand Fashion Week (ANZFW) organisers this morning showed up to seven Australian designers will show at the September event.
Queensland label House of Ezis and Western Australian brand United Constructions are among those who have agreed to cross the Tasman for the September 21 to 25 show with a further five as yet unnamed brands also making the trek.
The quintet will feature as part of the Diet Coke Little Black Dress Show, held for the first time at ANZFW's Viaduct Basin home, with each custom making garments for the show.
Other high profile labels confirmed for the event include ANZFW regulars Trelise Cooper, Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Cybele, Zambesi and Nom*D with edgy label World one of the few noticeable absentees.
ANZFW managing director Pieter Stewart said keeping collections fresh was a key priority for organisers.
"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. If there is one thing we've learnt. . . it's to adapt and change in difficult times."
Buyer registration is open now at a cost of $25.
For more see the August 14 issue of Ragtrader.
Image supplied by ANZFW.