The 37 designers from fashion schools in 16 countries will be in the city for the iD International Emerging Designer Awards.
The designers this year have explored themes from technology and war to sustainability and abandoned buildings.
Two of the 37 hail from Dunedin, including Otago Polytechnic graduate Phoebe Lee.
Ms Lee said yesterday her designs were usually colourful and she designed ''to how I'm feeling''.
She liked to incorporate her own drawings and illustrations into her designs.
She found out she was one of two chosen from Dunedin late last year.
''I was very excited.
''I've always dreamed of being in an Emerging show.''
In the past she had dressed models, and last year she modelled in the show herself.
''It's pretty cool that it's built up to being a designer showing my own things.''
For her future, Ms Lee said she was delving more into art to find different outlets for her creativity outside fashion.
''I will keep doing fashion design,'' she said, though that might be aspects such as accessories.
Of her collection for the show, she said it was ''a combination of funky, quirky, edgy and cute''.
''It's inspired by the '60s and punk individuality.''
The other graduate is Rosette Hailes-Paku.
Judge Tanya Carlson said there was a consistency of themes from graduates, no matter where in the world they came from.
''This year many of the entries are inward-looking, asking 'who am I', as they explore their place in the world.
''Young designers are drawing upon their experience with family, ethnicity and what it is like to be an immigrant to inform their clothes and at the same time question identity and how it defines their place in the world.''
Each designer will show five garments at the show.
