Auckland has the New Zealand Fashion Week in early September and the New Zealand Fashion Festival late February. Dunedin has the iD Fashion Week in late March. And now, Wellington has it's own 8 day long fashion event in April.
Positioning itself to fledgling as designers an affordable stepping stone towards the official New Zealand Fashion Week, but also to consumers as an exciting opportunity to experience the world of high fashion is an exercise in juxtaposition.
Designers need to display their wares to boutique owners who will purchase large quantities of their garments to go on sale in six months time, whereas consumers want to see garments they can purchase instores tomorrow. The concept is at war with itself.
Cameron Sneddon, of now defunct personal styling company 'Sass Styling' whose internet presence has all but vanished, is the founder and organiser of Wellington Fashion week. Twenty-two years old, with nothing but retail experience in a boutique shoe store under his belt (or so I'm told), this is a lofty project for the inexperienced Sneddon. Without comprehensive industry experience I seriously doubt Sneddon has a firm grasp on exactly how the industry, or its consumers operate. Not to mention the incredible complications and effort that goes into producing a week long fashion event.
Based on the much referenced press release, Wellington Fashion Week has the support of; Museum Arts Hotel, Armstrong Prestige Audi, Massey University and The Edge. It's a nice looking (though short) sponsor list, and I hope it bears fruits.
I honestly wish nothing but the best for Wellington Fashion Week - any event that increases the profile of New Zealand fashion designers can only be a good thing. But at this stage, I'm not holding my breath.
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