Recent fashion graduates from Te Pukenga Otago Polytechnic Isabella Dudley-Farnham, Katalia Reid and Ciaran Naylor will learn tomorrow if they are winners in this year’s iD International Emerging Designer Awards.
The trio gathered in Tuhura Otago Museum’s Hutton Theatre for judging day yesterday, models in tow, to present their garments before a panel.
Ms Dudley-Farnham’s collection, "Valley of the Dolls", explored the relationship between dress-up dolls and young girls.
It focused on how dolls could shape perceptions of beauty and self-worth, and the unrealistic ideals that could be echoed and amplified by the beauty industry.
Being the first to show her work to the judges was "scary", she said.
It was also a "dream come true" to be selected as a finalist.
"Getting to have your work more exposed to a wider audience, it’s just an incredible feeling."
Mr Naylor said he had a "history" of going over the time limit for polytechnic presentations, but was really happy with how he did yesterday.
His collection, "New Patina", reimagined early 20th-century working clothes in a modern fashion context, aiming to promote a more mindful relationship between people and their clothes.
Being recognised by a Dunedin institution, as someone from the city, was pretty cool, he said.
Ms Reid said she had entered the awards on a whim and had not expected to hear back.
Her collection, "Folly", was a critique of consumerism and throwaway culture through social commentators, such as jesters, fools, and clowns, who throughout history used humour to expose uncomfortable truths.
It was not "traditional fashion" — nor traditional Dunedin fashion — and Ms Reid encouraged others to believe in themselves.
"Just be you and see where it goes."
All finalists will show their work at the iD Dunedin Fashion Show, tomorrow and Saturday, with the winners announced at the end of Friday’s show.
