Brother Design Stars to Shine Bright At New Zealand Fashion Week

Top young creative talent will see their name up in lights, as finalists of this year’s Brother Design Stars will feature in the inaugural New Zealand Fashion Week Graduate Show supported by Brother.

Brother Design Stars (now in its third year) encourages students in school years 7 to 13 to enter one of two award categories - fashion or craft - for their chance to win thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes and money-can’t-buy experiences.

This year’s partnership with New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) gives all award finalists the opportunity to showcase their design/s as part of the industry’s largest fashion event of the year.

Brother International (NZ), General Manager of Marketing, Emma Crossett, says this is an incredibly exciting year for the competition. “We’ve seen first-hand the incredible talent that exists right throughout the country, and we’re really excited to applaud this talent on a global stage as well as give future designers a taste of what it’s like to be part of the fashion industry.”

Each year NZFW supports young designers through its New Generation and Contemporary Salon platforms, which mentor them through the early steps on the journey to becoming established in the local and international market.

“The NZFW Graduate Show presented by Brother will allow designers just starting that journey, to experience the excitement and pressure of showing on New Zealand's premiere fashion catwalk and we look forward to what we know will be an exciting show,” NZFW Director, Dame Pieter Stewart, says. 

Last year’s supreme winning entry, designed by 12-year-old Ellie Goldfinch, received immediate praise from judge, and COOP by Trelise Cooper Designer, Kayla Jurlina. It is currently being reproduced (with designer credit to Ellie) as part of a COOP collection set to be released later this year.


Photo courtesy of Goode PR

“We were overwhelmed by the calibre of entries last year and the decision of a top New Zealand designer to recreate Ellie’s design,” Crossett says.

“We want to encourage and inspire more young Kiwis to design, sew and create, and follow their dreams. Ellie’s incredible story proves that anything can happen if you put yourself out there and believe in yourself.”

With the 2016 awards theme of ‘Shine Bright’, entrants are encouraged to create a design that stands out from the crowd, and makes a statement with colour, texture and fabric. The theme runs across both categories; Brother Design Stars Craft Award and Brother Design Stars Fashion Award. These are split into two age groups – 7 to 9 and 10 to 13.

Those who are fashion savvy, follow trends, and love to express their individual fashion style, are invited to enter the Brother Design Stars Fashion Award. Entrants must create a runway-ready fashion item or complete outfit.

The Brother Design Stars Craft Award asks entrants to create a unique and eye-catching bag of their choice. This category will appeal to those with a passion for DIY, decorating and craft and who love experimenting with different materials.

All finalists’ entries across both categories will feature on the runway as part of the NZFW Graduate Show. Four category winners (across two age groups) will travel to Auckland to watch the show and enjoy exclusive backstage access as Brother VIPs.

Registrations for Brother Design Stars open Monday 2 May, and close Friday 8 July, 2016. Entrants must register online at www.brotherdesignstars.co.nz. All physical entries must be received for judging by 5pm Friday 15 July, 2016. Winners will be announced in late August.