Two high-profile local fashion identities have been secured as part of a prestigious international judging panel.
Karen Webster and Glynis Traill-Nash will join UK celebrity milliner Stephen Jones at this years annual iD International Emerging Designer Awards, held in Dunedin on March 14.
The Awards will see 31 finalists representing five countries – New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland and China – vie for the final prize pool.
The top three entrants will receive prizes including NZ$5,000 for first place winner, $3,000 for second place, $1,000 for third place, with other prizes yet to be announced.
Webster points out that the iD Awards show how small cities like Dunedin can have a local element in terms of its own finalists but also a huge global impact.
With 30-years experience in the fashion industry associate professor Karen Webster, deputy head of fashion and textiles at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, has been a key player in the industry as a designer, academic, board member and five years as the festival director of the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Webster's extensive knowledge and experience across many platforms in the Australian fashion industry makes her a highly sought-after public speaker and consultant, amping up the profile of this years awards.
Fashion writer and commentator Glynis Traill-Nash is a permanent front-row fixture at fashion shows and events, covering shows in Australia, New York, Paris, Milan, Berlin and Auckland.
Traill-Nash was most recently editor at The Sunday Telegraph and has written content for many publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun Herald, Grazia and In Style.
She is a regular fashion spokesperson for radio and TV, appearing on The Morning Show, Today Project Runway and A Current Affair.
Traill-Nash said she is thrilled to be going to Dunedin to see the line-up of emerging designers from around the world and helping them get a foothold in the industry.
iD Dunedin Fashion Week committee member and fashion lecturer Dr Margo Barton said such a high calibre of judges will provide excellent insight for the finalists.
“To meet and discuss their work with such high profile industry experts is an incredible opportunity for our 31 finalists,” Dr Barton said.