New Zealand:4th DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship opens for entries

 

DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, is calling for emerging fashion exporters to enter the fourth DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship. Designed to identify the country’s hottest up-and-coming fashion exporter and assist them in achieving international growth, the scholarship is open to New Zealand designers who have been exporting for less than four years.

Megan Wildermoth, national strategic account manager (fashion and textiles) at DHL Express, says, “Over the years, the scholarship has provided an invaluable boost for designers looking to grow their brands internationally. Previous winners, including Stolen Girlfriends Club, Lonely Hearts and Twenty-Seven Names, have gone from strength-to-strength.”

The winner of the scholarship will receive international freight to the value of NZ$10,000, as well as coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express.

All three finalists will receive individual export mentoring and an annual membership subscription from Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ).

In a new addition to the scholarship this year, all three finalists will also be invited to join the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) Path to Market programme for apparel exporters, which aims to improve the rate and speed of market entry to Australia. Judging the 2011 DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship are:

• Margarita Robertson, creative director and co-founder of NOM*D; one of New Zealand’s most iconic and enduring fashion brands
• Prominent New Zealand entrepreneur and exporter, Erica Crawford; co-founder of Kim Crawford Wines and managing principal at Tentpole Holdings
• Megan Wildermoth, national strategic account manager (fashion and textiles) at DHL Express
• Mapihi Opai, executive officer at Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ)

For last year’s winner, Wellington-based fashion brand Twenty-Seven Names, the DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship has produced tangible results.

“Previously, we only showed sample ranges in Australasia. But, this year, we were able to send samples to Japan, Europe and the U.S,” says Anjali Stewart, co-founder and designer of Twenty-Seven Names.

“Increasing the number of agents and buyers able to physically view the collections has helped grow our export sales and raise our profile.”

FINZ executive officer, Mapihi Opai, says, “The scholarship provides much needed exposure and assistance for talented New Zealand fashion exporters, which not only raises the profile of their brands, but lends a tremendous amount of credibility to their businesses, both here and internationally.”

Entrants are required to complete an official application form and submit lookbooks from previous collections. Applications will be judged across several categories, including ‘brand and design’, ‘sales and marketing’ and ‘export strategy’.