Fashion ākonga bound for NZFW

Eight Otago Polytechnic Design graduates are set to pack their garment bags for New Zealand Fashion Week later this month.

Bachelor of Design (Fashion) graduates Jonty Blakely, Amelia Phillips, Taylor Pumphrey, Ethan Cruise, Ellen Ross and Russelle Tino will show at the NZFW Graduate Show, to be held at the Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, on 30 August.

In addition, Francesca Flynn and Sofia Heke will take part in Go Media Miromoda 2023, part of NZFW.

“I’m thrilled to have so many graduates showing at New Zealand Fashion Week,” says Dr Margo Barton, Head of Fashion, Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga.

“I’m really happy to be supporting some of our graduates from 2020, 2021 and 2022. And I’m obviously also thrilled that NZFW is resuming after a Covid-enforced break.”

Previously, only three Otago Polytechnic designers were showcased at NZFW. However, the resumption of the event prompted Dr Barton and her Fashion Design team to make a special request to include more designers, albeit showing fewer outfits.

With the proposal accepted, Dr Barton and her team contacted graduates who had been selected to show at NZFW in 2021 and 2022 to see if they were still interested in being involved in the prestigious event.

“Some were unable to commit because of work or travel. So our shortlist was widened to include students previously selected by an independent panel to show at iD Dunedin’s Railway Show.

“It was difficult to narrow it down to six,” Dr Barton says. “We also recommended two of our top graduates, Sofia Heke (2021-22) and Francesca Flynn (2022), for the Miromoda show. I am delighted they were both selected.”

Since introducing a graduate show in 2016, New Zealand Fashion Week has been a great springboard for many designers.

“The NZFW experience is used for professional development, networking and as a form of portfolio. Crucially, it serves as a platform to reach potential employers,” Dr Barton says.

“The event also offers many benefits for Otago Polytechnic’s School of Fashion” Dr Barton says, adding this includes catching up with former students.

“Fashion at Otago Polytechnic has a long history, and therefore our graduates are at different stages of their fashion careers, including working in varied positions. Learning what our graduates are doing, how they got there and gathering advice for our current and future learners is very important information.

“We invite high schools in Auckland to our NZFW show – as we believe it provides a fantastic opportunity to inspire future fashion learners.”