Fashion Design showcase 'Supersized' for iD25

Fashion Design graduates will be front and centre at the prestigious iD 2025 Dunedin Fashion Show this week at the Dunedin Railway Station.

Three of our graduates are finalists in the iD25 International Emerging Designer Awards, with their collections being showcased on the outdoor platform on Friday and Saturday nights.
(Check out the ODT story on them here: Young designers vie for fashion week award)

22 Emerging Designer finalists are hitting the Dunedin catwalk, after judges assessed entries from 26 countries and 40 fashion schools last December.

This year’s iD show also features a special ‘supersized” Otago Polytechnic section, giving the public a chance to see selected pieces by our recent graduates.

The move to a biennial event for the iD Dunedin Fashion Show has expanded the opportunity for former students, with 10 designers selected to show their collections in 2025 (compared to 4-6 designers in previous years).

The showcase of Otago graduates from 2023 and 2024 is a way of celebrating the creativity and talent of local designers and models.

Mark Cartwright, Deputy Executive Director: Academic Delivery, says it’s a key part of Otago Polytechnic’s partnership with the iconic runway show, highlighting a commitment to excellence in education and its active role in shaping the future of fashion design.

"By participating in iD Dunedin Fashion Week, Otago Polytechnic provides its students with a real-life platform to showcase their talents on an international stage, promoting emerging designers and offering them networking opportunities within the fashion industry."

"The event has helped us to forge relationships with institutions across the globe, most notably with the Shanghai University of Engineering and Science who have sent fashion modelling students to participate in the show."

Margo Barton, co-chair of iD Dunedin Fashion and Academic Leader of the Fashion Design programme at Otago Polytechnic, admits it was a challenge for the selection panel to narrow the lineup to 10 graduate designers.

“The designers featured in the Otago Polytechnic showcase will provide attendees with an insight into the current state of fashion and its future possibilities.”

“Each collection is wearable and appealing to a diverse audience, includes menswear, evening wear, and everything in between, and is relevant to various sizes and ages.”

The winners of the iD International Emerging Designer Awards will be announced at the end of the show on Friday 4 April, including the Otago Polytechnic People’s Choice Award.

Otago Polytechnic showcase section (2 looks each):

• Isabella Dudley-Farnham  (2024 graduate, collage 1 L top)
• Ciaran Naylor  (2024 graduate, collage 1 L bottom)
• Emily Guylee (2024 graduate, collage 1 R bottom)
• Katalia Reid  (2024 graduate, collage 2 L)
• Rhiannon Savage  (2024 graduate, collage 2 C)
• Tegan Vickery  (2024 Honours graduate, collage 2 R)
• Molly Marsh  (2023 graduate, collage 3 L top)
• Mamia van Dongen  (2023 graduate, collage 3 L bottom)
• Katherine Inder  (2023 Honours graduate, collage 3 R top)
• Laurabelle Voight  (2023 Honours graduate, collage 3 R bottom)