Tūhura Otago Museum has collaborated with iD Fashion Week to mount an exhibition featuring the 2025 iD International Emerging Designer Awards finalists.
Large-scale digital projections in the Beautiful Science Gallery are showcasing a selection of garments created by the 28 finalists.
iD event manager Victoria Muir said entries were submitted from 40 fashion schools.
As well as a strong contingent from New Zealand and Australia, there were finalists from countries including Belgium, Croatia, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States, Mrs Muir said.
"iD has a really strong focus on sustainability, so they need to include a sustainability statement"
"They need to include a collection statement and any other information they think might be useful for the judges"
Entries have to come from designers who graduated within the past seven years from a fashion degree.
There is no brief in terms of the style or theme of the collection, which could include up to five pieces.
"I think the biggest thing is they are not designing commercially.
"The nice thing is this is a real expression of themselves and what their likes are and what their interests are within the fashion world"
The fashion pieces feature some very creative choices of material, such as one entry made from transparent pipes.
"Some are really pushing the boundaries and some are a bit more commercial looking"
Sustainability is a feature for some of the pieces, through the use of recycled materials, zero-waste techniques and biodegradable inks.
"So they are really thinking about sustainability, I think, in every step of the process"
In December last year, a selection panel went through the entries and whittled them down to the finalists.
The fashion designers will be present for the iconic iD Dunedin Fashion Show at Dunedin Railway Station on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5.
The winners of the iD International Emerging Designer Awards will be announced at the end of Friday’s show.
Tūhura Otago Museum senior designer Annah Taggot said each of the international and local designers this year had a distinct and clear identity.
"I think this exhibition truly stands out, with some fascinating themes and concepts coming through"
As well as providing an opportunity to see a wide variety of creative fashion, visitors to the museum will be invited to cast their vote for the Otago Polytechnic People’s Choice Award.
The winner will be announced at the iD Dunedin Fashion Show.
Awards finalists
Beautiful Science Gallery
Tūhura Otago Museum
Open until April 2
Free admission
