Forget the status quo, it was all about dreaming big at the iD International Emerging Designer Awards 2018.
Held this year at the Dunedin Town Hall, the annual iD International Emerging Designer Awards were a riotous mash-up of 42 graduate collections from across the globe.
The best part? Each and every entrant had a distinctly unique point of view that was executed impeccably – not one slither of double sided tape in sight. With the world in digital overdrive, being able to sit down for two hours and view garments so tactile in the flesh is a real luxury. Goodbye black basics, hello swirling metallic jumpsuits, couch cushion bustiers and psychedelic swimmers.
Read on to find out more about the inspiration behind our top picks from the show.
1. DYLAN MCCUTCHEON-PEAT
Flying the flag for Dunedin’s local design school Otago Polytechnic, Dylan Mccutcheon-Peat explored the tension between masculine and feminine, most interestingly exposing erogenous zones – like the decolletage – more typical to womenswear.
2. MISAKI OBA
Much like the sensation one experiences when you’ve spent a little too much time scrolling an Instagram feed, Misaki Oba’s collection titled Hyper-Reality took metallics to a dizzying level. A graduate from University of Technology in Sydney, her collection questioned technological advancements in our day-to-day lives. When do they cross the line from help into hindrance?
3. JESSICA GUZMAN
There’s no denying fashion’s relationship to communicating social class. Jessica Guzman, also from the University of Technology in Sydney, took an interest in the UK and played on couture vs. “chav”. We can’t get enough of the high-low cool of her sweater and tulle skirt combination.
4. GEMMA CORNISH
Hang loose! Gemma Cornish’s candy coloured swimwear was a definite crowd pleaser, taking home the prize for Most Commercial Collection. The Massey University of Wellington student combined swirling prints and clever panelling. The result? Wet-suiting that was both playful and practical.
5. MADELEINE JOST
Hailing from the Royal Melbourne University of Technology, Madeleine Jost used tactile upholstery fabrics to explore the tangled web between our memories, where we live and what we wear. Home is where the heart is after all, and our hearts are firmly set on taking wallpaper prints and velvet cushions beyond our grandparents’ sitting room.
