Leading logistics firm DHL is on the hunt for emerging fashion designers with international export plans, and is offering the opportunity to win a prize pool worth $10,000.
The 2012 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship, which has previously helped local labels such as We Are Handsome and Bec & Bridge, is now accepting applications from Australian fashion designers and labels who have been exporting for less than four years.
The competition, which is now in its third year, will grant the winner a tailored export mentoring program as well as an international freight package to the value of $10,000 from DHL Express, to assist the designer in taking their brand global.
DHL Express Oceania & DHL Express senior vice president Gary Edstein, said the competition was designed to support the fashion industry and help emerging talent flourish despite the tough trading environment.
“DHL understands the challenges for emerging brands and businesses to begin exporting and this is why we began the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship, to help these designers to realise their international exporting potential,” he said.
Jeremy J Somers of We Are Handsome also acknowledged the scholarship as a significant stepping stone to the brand's current success.
“Winning the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship has enabled us to ensure that taking the brand beyond Australia is done safely and with ease. Exporting is a detailed and crucial part of any international business and the support and mentoring from the DHL Express team has been absolutely invaluable and has taught us more than what we could have done going it alone,” he said.
“I would strongly urge any designers with international dreams to enter. It has been one of the best decisions we have made.”
Interested parties who would like to apply for the 2012 DHL Express Fashion Scholarship can click here. Entries close 5pm, June 8, 2012.