Dunedin models trained on New Zealand's longest catwalk are for the first time being given an exclusive casting call for New Zealand Fashion Week.
Ali McD Aart Agency will take 17 of its models to Auckland this weekend, where they will be scrutinised by designers and fashion week organisers.
Agency co-director Darryl McNamara said it was the first time Dunedin models had been given their own casting slot for New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW).
The opportunity was a result of the success and good reputation of iD Dunedin Fashion Week, he said.
''We approached the organisers of New Zealand Fashion Week about a casting, and when they heard the models all had experience with iD they were dead keen. It shows how important iD is for the city,'' he said.
The 17 models, including four males, have not previously worked at New Zealand Fashion Week.
They will be judged with hundreds of other hopefuls from top national and international modelling agencies.
''We wouldn't take the models if we didn't think they could compete on that level. They [NZFW organisers] shifted all the other agency slots just to squeeze us in, so we are extremely lucky to get this,'' Mr McNamara said.
Previously, only ''one or two'' Dunedin models had been selected for NZFW, mostly through referrals by other agencies, he said.
''It's the first time we've had a casting slot of our own.''
Mr McNamara expected to hear in the next few weeks whether Dunedin models had been selected for the September show.
