Air NZ Helps Put Kiwi Fashion On The Global Stage

Air New Zealand Helps Put Kiwi Fashion On The Global Stage

It’s back – Air New Zealand today launched its second annual fashion export awards for designers showing at this year’s Air New Zealand Fashion Week.

Designed to help New Zealand fashion designers boost their export business and international profile, the Air New Zealand Fashion Week Export Awards provides two designers with a lucrative Air New Zealand international travel prize, accommodation from Hilton International, market support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and freight assistance from DHL Express, with a combined value of more than $55,000.

“Following the huge success of last year’s awards, we’re thrilled to be able to offer another two deserving designers the opportunity to expand their export business, increase their market presence and grow their profile on the global stage,” says Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales Norm Thompson.

“New Zealand fashion is increasingly being recognised overseas for its dynamic yet raw and indigenous style, so it’s a great time to be giving designers the assistance they need to drive export sales.”

There are two categories within the Air New Zealand Fashion Week Export Awards:

1. Export Growth Award

Open to designers showing at Air New Zealand Fashion Week who export beyond Australia or who have exported for more than five years, the Export Growth Award offers the following prize:

Four business class tickets on Air New Zealand to any of the airline’s international destinations, to a maximum value of $32,000

 Four nights’ accommodation staying in up to two of the 250 branded Hilton International properties worldwide

 One day of in-market support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, such as assistance with appointment schedules, translation services and/or follow-up

 $2000 worth of international freight and $500 worth of Courier Post domestic freight provided by DHL Express

2. Export Development Award

Open to designers showing at Air New Zealand Fashion Week who export only to Australia or who have exported for less than five years, the Export Development Award offers the following prize:

Two business class tickets on Air New Zealand to any of the airline’s international destinations, to a maximum value of $16,000

• Two nights’ accommodation staying in up to two of the 250 branded Hilton International properties worldwide

• One day of in-market support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, such as assistance with appointment schedules, translation services and/or follow-up

• $1000 worth of international freight and $250 worth of Courier Post domestic freight provided by DHL Express

Last year’s Export Growth Award winner Karen Walker found a dual purpose for her award, generously offering half of it to up-and-coming designer Adrian Hailwood so he could join her at London’s Fashion Week to learn the ropes.

"Air New Zealand recognises that being there is everything and this is especially true in fashion. This prize gave me the opportunity to give something back to the New Zealand fashion industry by sharing my knowledge and experience with an up-and-coming New Zealand designer and along the way opening some doors for them and providing them some short cuts," says Ms Walker.

And like Karen, the winner of last year’s Export Development Award, Kylee Davis from Insidious Fix, found her award equally valuable.

“The Air New Zealand Export Award provided us with the opportunity to fulfil some of our long term business goals very rapidly. Our research and market development trips to Australia not only enabled us to increase our sales but we were also able to identify a new market for our knitwear and created the Esoteric label to meet the market demand,” says Ms Davis.

“Furthermore, exposure from an Air New Zealand in-flight documentary on our label caught the attention of a British agent who subsequently picked up representation of Fix in the United Kingdom. Without that exposure and the added opportunity to travel, we would not have had the means to break into the coveted British market on our own,” she says.

Entries for the Air New Zealand Fashion Week Export Awards open today and close 30 September. The winner will be announced at this year’s Air New Zealand Fashion Week.

The Air New Zealand Fashion Week Export Awards will be judged by a distinguished panel of industry representatives including Jeremy Moon, CEO of Icebreaker; Pieter Stewart, Managing Director of New Zealand Fashion Week; Judith Thompson, Sector Manager, Creative Industries of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales Norm Thompson.

They will assess entries based on the entrant’s prospects for export success from the planned international travel, as well as their level of innovation and understanding of the global market.

Air New Zealand Fashion Week is being held from October 18 to 21 at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

“It’s a big year for Air New Zealand with the introduction of new domestic and international aircraft, and launch of our new long-haul service, offering world class lie-flat beds, in-flight entertainment for every passenger and a revamped food and beverage menu. To complete this new look, we’ll be launching our new Zambesi-designed uniforms at the start of this year’s Air New Zealand Fashion Week,” says Mr Thompson.

The launch of today’s Air New Zealand Fashion Week Export Awards follows an announcement earlier this month by Air New Zealand to introduce a new scholarship award to help new and emerging designers get started in the fashion industry. More details on the scholarship will be revealed in the coming year.

ENDS

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