The international cosmetic hall is staffed by award-winning makeup artists and trained beauty therapists who can offer professional advice and the latest looks from international brands including MAC, and – new to New Zealand – Jurlique, both exclusive to Arthur Barnett in Dunedin.

After initial fears that funding wouldn’t be available for this year’s show, this fantastic community event is returning triumphant for an 11th year, bringing together a spectacular line-up of designers and emerging talent on the platform of the city’s captivating Victorian Railway Station. As Susie Staley, Chair of the iD Dunedin Fashion Committee, says:

“Our announcement of the line-up for the iD Fashion Show is confirmation of our commitment to the iD Dunedin Fashion Week. It’s full steam ahead and we are confident of providing a thrilling, engaging fashion week in March 2010.”

Sixteen labels will appear on stage, including crowd favourites Nom*D, Carlson and Mild Red. New to the iD Show is menswear label Rembrandt and Company of Strangers, who will feature alongside the ever popular Cherry Cotton Candy, twentysevennames and Charmaine Reveley

Sara Aspinall of Company of Strangers cut her fashion teeth working for six years with Nom*D’s Margarita Robertson after graduating from Otago Polytechnic. Company of Strangers gives second hand clothing a second chance in her 2010 winter collection, “Misery Loves Company”.

The 2010 Capsule Collections will see the return of Iris (Annette Cadogan), Jane Sutherland, Elusiv (Nicola Reilly) and BurtenShaw (Cheryl Burtenshaw) together with new designers Vaughan Geeson, Lou & Ash (Ava Sanders), and Lela Jacobs.

Originally a Southlander, Vaughan Geeson (also an Otago Polytechnic grad) celebrates his Dunedin roots by returning to the place where he gained his Diploma of Fashion Design to show his third season collection, Winter 2010. This year Vaughan relaunched his namesake womenswear label with a range for winter 2009 that was picked up by Japanese store Boutique Bb.

Complementing the line up of established designers will be five outstanding collections from 2009 Otago Polytechnic Fashion School graduates. Selected from a field of 21, the graduates are: Roxanna Zamani, Sophie Hardy, Bailey Meredith, Siobhan Moroney and Brigid Steeper. Selected by a panel comprised of: Tim Pollock (Dunedin Public Art Gallery), Diann Waugh (Waughs), Charmaine Reveley (fashion designer) and Tania Grey (Plume), the graduates will show alongside the winners of the iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Awards.

The Otago Polytechnic School of Fashion has helped to launch the careers of many talented New Zealand designers. The Polytechnic collaborates with other institutions, the city and the Dunedin Fashion Incubator (Dfi), making it a popular choice for would-be designers to hone their skills and learn the techniques they need to launch onto the increasingly crowded fashion industry.

We eagerly await future announcements!