New Zealand Fashion Week is set to bring a bespoke version of the event to the city of Christchurch.
It will feature a large-scale spring/summer runway fashion show, showcasing a curated mix of iconic and emerging designers from across the country, as well as a focus on Christchurch-based designers.
The Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival, presented by NZFW, will also feature pop-up retail-based shows in key Christchurch locations, along with the “Beyond the Runway” speaker series, which includes panels, styling sessions, and a designer lunch.
Live-stream programming will give both local and international audiences access to runway shows and panel discussions.
Feroz Ali, the owner of New Zealand Fashion Week, was thrilled to bring the spirit of New Zealand Fashion Week to Christchurch for the first time in history. He said this partnership marked a bold new chapter, not just for NZFW, but for fashion in New Zealand.
“Christchurch is a city that knows how to reinvent, push boundaries, and celebrate its creative community with quiet confidence," said Ali.
"We’re proud to co-create an event that reflects the unique style, innovation, and cultural richness of the South Island. This is fashion with purpose, rooted in place and people.”
This will be the first year of a three-year partnership between New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) and ChristchurchNZ, reflecting a dual-host format. Christchurch’s edition will take place in November each year as part of On Show, the city’s spring visitation and events campaign, complementing Auckland’s August event.
NZFW will deliver distinct versions of the events in each city. Christchurch will focus on a consumer-oriented, high-end fashion experience featuring local designers and businesses, cultural storytelling, and public engagement, while Auckland will continue with its traditional designer-led, industry-focused programming under NZFW Kahuria.
NZFW will seek a gifted name from Ngāi Tūāhuriri to accompany the current name for the Christchurch event.
ChristchurchNZ Head of Major Events Karena Finnie said hosting the event the weekend before Cup and Show week will draw attention to the strong fashion component of the traditional horse racing and strengthen the cultural side of the city’s events portfolio during spring.
“With New Zealand Fashion Week’s proven history of supporting growth in the fashion and creative sectors in Auckland over the past 21 years, bringing an NZFW event to Christchurch has the potential to generate significant regional industry opportunities, particularly through partnerships with local brands and designers,” said Finnie.
“Christchurch is home to iconic brands like Untouched World, which are taking to the NZFW runway for the first time this week in Auckland. It also brings the opportunity to align with one of Christchurch’s key industry sectors, Food, Fibre, & Agritech, and showcase the sustainable fashion brands that have grown from the South Island.”
Untouched World founder and CEO Peri Drysdale was also excited that NZFW was coming to Christchurch.
“There’s something pretty special about having the same farmer who supplies your merino wool popping into your store as a regular customer. It’s a reminder that fashion should be personal, local, and deeply connected to community,” added Drysdale.
“We’re thrilled to see this vibrant regional network stepping into the spotlight at Fashion Week, because where your clothes come from matters, and we believe the future of fashion starts right here.”
This inaugural year will test the city’s appetite for fashion events and is expected to grow over the three years of the current partnership.
NZFW will run events in Christchurch from the 7th to the 9th of November 2025.
