Building Exclusive Pathways For Young Creatives

Many young designers across New Zealand will be granted advanced standing into a top fashion degree, thanks to Brother Design Stars, Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion and New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW). The Brother Design Stars competition, run by Brother International (NZ) Limited, encourages young students to create original entries into one of two award categories – fashion or craft. The theme for 2017 was Steal the Show and this year the efforts of the young artists went a step further, stealing the heart of New Zealand fashion industry leader, Margo Barton. Margo Barton, Fashion Professor at Otago Polytechnic, was a first-time judge of Brother Design Stars this year after her graduates took the same NZFW stage as the Brother finalists last year. This year she has made a very special offer on behalf of Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion to the top performing Brother Design Stars. All Brother Design Stars fashion entrants that gained a highly commended award or above in years 12 and 13 will be given advanced standing, receiving direct entry into the degree, with the chance to be learning alongside some of the top fashion students in the nation. The programme only accepts 20 to 30 students a year. “The quality I saw last year in the Graduate Show supported by Brother was mind-blowing, and getting to meet the young designers was a real treat. When I was asked to judge this year, I jumped at the chance.” Barton is internationally recognised as a model, pattern-grader, designer, milliner and award-winning educator. TheOtago Polytechnic Bachelor of Design (Fashion) degree is among the best in the world, with Otago Polytechnicbeing the only university in New Zealand to be featured in the Business of Fashion Top 50 Degrees In Fashion list.Otago Polytechnic alumni are established both internationally and nationally with the likes of NOM*D designers, Maaike and Twentysevennames founders as past students. Barton, along with fellow judge Abby Holland, looked at each entry in detail, reading accompanying information and paying close attention to the entrants’ chosen inspiration. “I thought every Brother Design Star deserved to be at New Zealand Fashion Week this year and it was very difficult to refine it down to the top six. It reaffirmed to me the young talent we have here in New Zealand, and how important it is to nurture that. That’s why I made the decision on the spot to offer advanced standing to the top fashion entrants into the Bachelor of Design (Fashion) degree we offer at Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion. I wanted to keep seeing what these young designers could do!” she says. The partnership with New Zealand Fashion Week made this possible, with its continued vision to provide creative pathways into a competitive industry. Dame Pieter Stewart, founder of New Zealand Fashion Week, commends the effort to nurture young talent. “The Graduate Show supported by Brother was created with a shared vision of helping to open the door into the fashion industry. Brother Design Stars provided an opportunity for students just finding their creative feet. Margo Barton is a fashion stalwart in New Zealand and her generous offer could very well set these young adults on a path where we will see them at New Zealand Fashion Week again in years to come,” Stewart says. Christchurch teen Jane Boyle (16) has taken out both the Senior Fashion Award and the prestigious Brother Design Stars Supreme title. Jayda Lee Fairweather-Ponga (11) followed up as the winner of the Junior Fashion Award. In the craft section, young designers were asked to create a hat or headpiece. This inspired Ohakune local Chaya Connelly (13) to win the Junior Craft Award with her intriguing black horned headpiece she called “Maleficent”. Returning Brother Design Star from 2014, Zoe Beck (17), took out the Senior Craft Award with a show stopping headband creation with ferns, flowers and birds. All winners, finalists and high commended award winners will benefit from Barton’s offer if they choose to. Brother International (NZ) General Manager of marketing, Emma Crossett, is thrilled with the offer from Otago. “We’re truly honoured to have received this acknowledgement. Margo’s offer is a true reflection of the high calibre of entries we receive year in year out. Having our competition recognised and applauded by one of the very best in the industry is a huge compliment not just for us but to each and every designer involved” Crossett says. Now in its fourth year, Brother Design Stars is the most prestigious youth fashion and craft competition in New Zealand. All four winners receive Brother product to the value of $999, travel and accommodation to Auckland to attend the Graduate Show at New Zealand Fashion Week; and ‘a-money-can’t-buy’ experience of behind the scenes access to the show. The supreme winner also receives Brother product to the value of $3,750 for their school.