The 2017 iD Dunedin Fashion Week programme is out, and it’s going to be a busy one, as usual supported by several exhibitions around Dunedin’s many cultural institutions. A major highlight will be When Dreams turn to Gold at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Curated by Lucy Hammonds and Dr Natalie Smith, with curatorial support from Andrea Bell, this covers the 35 years of the Benson and Hedges and Smokefree Fashion Awards, once the highlight of the New Zealand fashion calendar. (This space is now contested by iD and some Auckland events.)
Dual Outlook, 1997
Photographer: Max Bellamy
Collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Opening in time for iD week, the exhibition (perhaps fittingly, given how important sponsorship was to the event, supported by Quartz Reef wines) includes garments, photography and footage celebrating the era of an annual showcase of New Zealand design excellence that launched careers and gave fashion a real sense of occasion.
There will of course be floortalks: on Wednesday 22 March, Lucy and Natalie will present with Cecilie Geary, who wrote commentary for the shows, and on 25 March, Lucy and Natalie, with special guests Linda Lepou, Margo Barton and Lisa McEwan, all of whom have works in the exhibition.
Black swimsuit and hat (from a collection of three), 1992
Photographer: Max Bellamy
Courtesy of Margo Barton
This is by no means the only reason the fashion crowd will be spending a lot of time at the gallery during the week. Other events at Dunedin Public Art Gallery include
- A selection of Emerging Designers garments on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 March; 3-4pm on Saturday, some of the designers will be present for informal discussions about their work.
- Sunday movies: 19 March, Dior and I; 25 March, First Monday in May.
- iD guest talk by Marc Moore of Stolen Girlfriends Club, Thursday 23 March, 12 noon (gold coin entry).
- Playspace activity focus on fabric design throughout the week.
- For updates on other speakers, keep an eye on the gallery’s Event Listing and the iD calendar.
Note that the exhibition runs until 15 June, so out-of-towners have a few months to organise their Dunedin visit. (Don’t forget to check out Current at the same time.)
Meanwhile, here’s some more on the exhibition in the Otago Daily Times and RNZ’s interview with Lucy from 12 March.