AUT fashion graduates take on the world
Eight AUT Bachelor of Design (fashion) graduates have been named as finalists in the iD International Emerging Designers Awards.
Sara Andrews, Petra Benton, Charlotte Cho, Sohong Lim, Monique Lynch, Richard McCoy, Fraser Mildon and Bay Rawlinson all completed their studies with AUT in 2012 and have been named as finalists in the awards.
The awards
The competition, part of the iD Fashion Week, is held in Dunedin in March and the designers were chosen from a pool of more than 100 entries.
The finalists now present their designs in front of a panel of judges and an audience.
One of the finalists
Charlotte Cho, one of AUT’s graduates and finalists, completed her Bachelor of Design (honours) in Fashion and Textiles last year.
“I heard about the iD competition and the success of past AUT graduates in the early stages of my course. Also there was a lot of encouragement and support from the lecturers who have guided me throughout the year.”
She says the competition is strong but thinks she has a good chance of doing well.
“I believe I have a chance with my distinctive textiles that have been meticulously thought-out, combined, and made single handedly by me.”
She says AUT provides excellent opportunities in accessing facilities that are hard to find in New Zealand, like the computerised knitting machines she used for her designs.
She also used AUT's Textile Design Lab to experiment and develop the knitted textiles she has in her collection.
More on the competition
Other New Zealand universities with finalists include Massey University and Otago Polytechnic and internationally finalists are from The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Shanghai University, London College of Fashion and the National College of Art and Design Ireland.
Prizes include NZ$5,000 for first place winner, $3,000 for second place, $1000 for third place, with other special prizes yet to be announced.