The prestigious judging panel of iD International Emerging Designer Awards, composed of Viva editor Amanda Linnell, Margi Robertson and head judge Tanya Carlson will this year be joined by Top Kiwi designer, Karen Walker whose celebrity following includes Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, Lorde, Florence Welch, LeBron James and Adele. She will be one of the guest judges along with WORLD’s Director and Designer, Benny Castles as well as the 23-year-old designer Maggie Hewitt, how’s brand Maggie Marilyn is sold over 75 stores internationally and online at Net-A-Porter.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have such a prestigious judging panel for this year’s new-look iD International Emerging Designer shows,” said iD Creative Director and iD Board chair Dr Margo Barton.
“I’m very excited to be part of the judging panel for this year’s iD International Emerging Designer Awards,” says Walker. “I’m sure there’ll be some exceptional talent and it’ll be great to view these collections up close. It’s been a while since I’ve had any time in Dunedin so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s happening in the city too.”
Karen Walker will also be involved in three public events- at talk on Friday 4 May at 12pm and a group discussion on Saturday May 5 at 1pm, both at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and she will attend the Breast Cancer Cure show at Emerson’s Brewery on Saturday May 5 from 6pm as an Ambassador.
Benny Castles and Maggie Hewitt will also join the panel discussion on Saturday, while Castles will also present a talk at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery on Thursday May 3 at 1pm, run a perfume master class at Marbecks in Wall Street Mall the same day at 3.30pm and run a WORLD pop-up store for showgoers at the Dunedin Town Hall before each show.
Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster to the iD International Emerging Designer Shows to be held at the Dunedin Town Hall on Thursday May 3 and Friday May 4 where 44 designers from 19 countries will show 42 collections. For more information, visit www.idfashion.co.nz.
