Trampoline skirts, plastic jackets, padded pants and a hologram helmet are among the bizarrely beautiful garments to be modelled on the catwalk at tonight's iD International Emerging Designer Awards.
Collections by the 30 designers entered in the awards were judged yesterday by British milliner Stephen Jones, NOM*d founder Margi Robertson, Dunedin designer Tanya Carlson, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Associate Prof Karen Webster and Sydney fashion writer Glynis Traill-Nash.
Winners will be revealed tonight at the sold-out catwalk show in the Lion Foundation Arena at the Edgar Centre.
Ms Carlson said this year's collections showed optimism and reflected global influences. They were highly executed and designers had taken great care to creatively work fabric.
''They were beautifully made, well fitted and showed real innovation in terms of technology and fabric treatment. There wasn't as much saturated colour and intensity of digital prints that we've seen in previous years.''
Each designer had the chance yesterday to explain their four or five outfits to the judges, who closely examined form, fabric and construction details.
It was the first time garments had been fitted on models for the show and, backstage, designers were frantically steaming and adjusting their creations before they were judged.
Nervous and excited, designers also got their first good look at their competition.
Entrants have travelled to Dunedin from Dublin, London, Shanghai, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and throughout New Zealand.
All in their 20s bar one, many have never showcased their designs in an international competition before.
Mandy Myles, of Dunedin, said the judges were friendly and approachable but the presentation was still nerve-racking.
It took Irish designers Laura Weber and Blathnaid McClean most of Tuesday to unpack, straighten and iron their outfits, which had been packed in suitcases for the trip.
''The only thing I was panicking about was my collection getting here in one piece, and it was such a relief to see it arrive at Auckland airport. I feel so privileged, so lucky to be able to come here,'' Ms Weber said.
Both graduated last year from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin and were thrilled to be selected for the iD awards.
The competition provided designers with recognition abroad as well as credibility at home, Ms McClean said.
''It gives us a lot more exposure, and you get more recognition at home when you've been away and showcased your wares elsewhere. iD is very prestigious,'' she said.
Both designers were looking forward to the show, and to spending their first St Patrick's Day in New Zealand before returning to Ireland.
The awards show was not the only major iD event to sell out.
All 1500 tickets to Saturday's iD Dunedin Fashion Show at the Dunedin Railway Station have been sold, and limited seats are left for tomorrow night's show.