It's fun, fabulous and the highlight of New Zealand's fashion calendar: New Zealand Fashion Week will return in 2021.

The biggest fashion event of the year will be broadcast digitally all over the country from August 30 to September 5. New Zealand Fashion Week organisers are planning a four-day celebration of homegrown, world-class fashion for trade and media, culminating in the much-anticipated public Fashion Weekend.

New Zealand Fashion Week had recently undergone a resurgence with a revamped location and promotional plan, and 2020 was shaping up to be the most exciting year yet – with incredible plans underway to celebrate 20 years of the event. Organisers have made the difficult decision to indefinitely postpone the eventto protect the health and welfare of everyone involved.

Dame Pieter Stewart, founder and managing director of New Zealand Fashion Week, says “The primary objective of New Zealand Fashion Week has always been to support the wonderful creative industry, designers and partners who are fundamental to its success. The impact of Covid-19 on the fashion industry has been severe, with many of our designers facing an unprecedented challenge.”

“I have no doubt that New Zealand fashion will come out of this stronger.  Next year will be the 20th anniversary of New Zealand Fashion Week – and we look forward to staging a phenomenal event that showcases the best of our local designers.”

The news of New Zealand Fashion Week’s return has been warmly welcomed by fashion leaders all around the country, who highlight its importance as a promotional and commercial platform for the local industry.

“New Zealand Fashion Week is the centerpiece of our local fashion industry," says Elisabeth Findlay of Zambesi.  It is hugely important not only to the designers, but also to our photographers, stylists, media, creatives, publicists and make-up artists.  It has a fundamental role in supporting a significant chunk of our creative industry, and we’re very pleased to hear it will return in 2021.”

Last year New Zealand Fashion Week consisted of more than 50 events for over 100 designers and was attended by 30,000 people in Auckland.  Full details on the event programme will be unveiled early next year.

nzfashionweek.com