iD International Emerging Designer Awards are part of iD Dunedin Fashion Week in March every year. This award is open to fashion graduates internationally and is held in Dunedin New Zealand. Various monetary and sponsor prizes are awarded for this internationally recognized award. The iD Dunedin website describes the iD Fashion Awards as;
“…an exciting opportunity for designers to network, develop collaborations with other international rising designers, industry contacts, high profile guest judges, media, established designers and gain invaluable professional experience.”
As a UTS graduate I have noticed that iD International has been receptive of UTS students in the past and the location would prove accessible to travel to. Majority of entries have been from Australia or New Zealand, however that’s not to exclude entries from all over the world. This creates an opportunity for fashion graduates to network and compete within an international market, this is one of the only international fashion awards for graduates within the Southern Hemisphere. There’s been some fascinating designs from previous entrants, ranging from commercial based work to alternative and quite elaborate designs. As a fashion graduate with an interest in alternative and futuristic designs, I see this as an opportunity for those with work less suitable for commercial competitions and awards.
ITS Fashion (International Talent Support)
The ITS Fashion Competition is an international competition for final year fashion students, graduates or young fashion designers. The competition requirements include artistic and technical sketches along with conceptual idea, photos of past work and CV. Strong illustration skills could pose as an advantage for entrants. Information necessary for entering ITS 2014 will be available from January and 2014 entries will be due in March, allowing time for 2013 graduates to prepare and post entries.
There are various awards offered by ITS Fashion. The Diesel Award for example will involve finalists working on a special project of which the Diesel Award Winner will be chosen. This consists of €25,000 which can contribute towards promotion and investment into the winners work. Along with this a 6 months internship with Diesel in Italy is also offered.
Various other monetary and promotional prizes are awarded every year, and generally 10-15 finalists are selected to travel to Italy for the final rounds of the competition. For those like myself interested in Streetwear, the Diesel award would be worthwhile to enter, the comparative exposure would be immense next to what Australia has to offer. If you are located in the Southern hemisphere like myself, entering the competition would be ambitious, but definitely worthwhile.
